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Making Safety Modifications to Age in Place Safely

Aging in place might seem really easy for seniors at first. As they continue to age, though, it’s important for family members to pay close attention to what safety modifications need to be made to help seniors continue to stay at home. Senior home care providers can offer a lot of help and support, not only with recognizing safety issues, but also helping to stay on top of keeping seniors safe at home.

Thoroughly Assess the Senior’s Living Space

Any plan starts with looking at what the person receiving help needs. In the case of seniors who want to age in place, it’s imperative to work out what makes sense in terms of safety. Looking for hazards is easier when family caregivers talk to seniors about what is more difficult now than it used to be and what they would change if they could.

Focus on the Bathroom

Many of the biggest safety issues for seniors occur in the bathroom. This is where seniors tend to be most vulnerable and may be more likely to slip, trip, or fall. Mounting grab bars strategically throughout the bathroom can help a lot. If seniors are worried about being safe in the bathroom or need more help, senior home care might be the right answer in addition to making safety modifications.

Lighting Is a Huge Help

An underrated safety change that can make a big difference is simply by improving lighting throughout the house. Darker areas of the home, like hallways or stairways, might benefit from motion-sensing nightlights. Other areas of the home might simply need brighter bulbs in light fixtures or adding additional lamps or light fixtures. Sometimes what seniors need is someone to help with changing burned-out light bulbs when those are more difficult for them to reach. Home care providers can tackle that for them.

Any Tripping Hazards Need to Go

If there is anything that could cause seniors to trip, it needs to be removed. This could include loose rugs, clutter in main pathways, or power cords. Rearranging furniture to clear larger spaces for walking safely might be in order, too. Senior home care providers can help aging adults stay on top of keeping tripping hazards out of the way so they can stay safer.

Enlist the Help of Senior Home Care Services

There are lots of other ways that senior home care providers can help with safety, too. Helping seniors stay properly hydrated and eating healthy meals is an important example. Low blood sugar and dehydration can each cause problems for seniors in terms of safe mobility. If seniors need help with other tasks, like transportation or remembering to stick to their doctors’ recommendations, professional caregivers can offer a lot of assistance.

When seniors want to stay in their own homes for as long as they can, prioritizing safety is the best way to make that happen. Senior home care providers can help families understand what contributes to keeping seniors as safe as possible, too, so that they can put a plan together to address safety modifications and other safety challenges.

If you or an aging loved one are considering senior home care in Lyons, KS, please contact the caring staff at Touching Hearts at Home Central Kansas today. Call 620-603-0685.

Touching Hearts at Home Central Kansas is a Trusted Home Care Agency Barton, Dickinson, Edwards, Ellis, Ellsworth, Great Bend, Hutchinson, Larned, Lyons, Marion, McPherson, Newton, Pawnee, Rice, Reno, Salina, Sedgwick, Stafford, and the surrounding areas.