Tips To Keep Your Mom Safe If She’s Living Alone

If you can’t visit your mom daily because you have work, school, or other family obligations elder care is a good way to make sure that your mom has support. With elder care, your mom will have regular visits from a care provider that can help her with everything from vacuuming to reminding her to take her medication.

If you live far away, elder care will give you peace of mind knowing that someone is putting eyes on your mom daily and helping her with any household tasks that are becoming difficult for her.

In addition to hiring elder care, some things that you can do to help your mom stay safe at home as she gets older are:

Prepare For Emergencies

Make sure you mom’s home is equipped with essential safety devices like smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and emergency alert systems. If your mom is hard of hearing or has hearing loss install a smoke detector that flashes light as well as makes a noise so that she will know if there is a fire.

It’s also a good idea to make sure there are easy to reach emergency supplies stashed somewhere like a downstairs closet, the garage, or even a shed in the yard. Keep bottled water, shelf-stable food, a flashlight with batteries, and other emergency supplies in a spot that she can reach in case there is a weather emergency.

Set Up a Medical Alert System

Equip your mom with a medical alert system or personal emergency response system (PERS) that she can use to call for help in case of an emergency. Even if your mom has elder care she should have a medical alert system in case she falls or needs to call for help when the care provider isn’t there. You can also arrange for 24-hour home care if you’re worried about her being alone.

Ensure Good Lighting

Make sure her home is well-lit, especially in hallways, staircases, and bathrooms. Use nightlights in key areas to improve visibility at night. Motion activated lights are fantastic for seniors because the lights go on as soon as they sense movement. That way your mom won’t have to struggle in the darkness until she finds a light switch in a hallway, the bathroom, or in other rooms.

Arrange for Regular Check-ins

Coordinate with neighbors, friends, or local community services to check in on your mom regularly. You can also set up scheduled phone or video calls to stay connected and monitor her well-being. A quick 5 minute call once a day is a great way to make sure she’s safe.

Use Smart Home Technology

Install smart home devices such as smart locks, doorbell cameras, and voice-activated assistants to enhance security and make daily tasks easier. Video doorbells and security cameras are great for helping her stay safe in her home.

Reference
https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/features/keeping-seniors-safe-in-their-own-homes

If you or an aging loved one is considering elder care in Brooklyn, NY, please contact the caring staff at Touching Hearts at Home – Manhattan, Brooklyn, Westchester, Queens, Rockland today. 646-480-6266