Have you recently started worrying about your parents’ safety? Yes, they’re still at home and are leading independent lives, but maybe they’re not as mobile as they used to, or you’ve noticed that their memory is a little fuzzy, and you’re worried that their cognitive state is in decline? However, they’re either not ready or not willing to move into assisted living, and so you are left wondering what steps you can take to make their homes as safe as possible for them to live in.
You are not alone. Countless adult children worry about their parents having an emergency at home and not being able to get help – and with good reason! The National Institute of Health found that the cases of people being found helpless or deceased in their homes sharply increased with age, with the highest rates in people over the age of 65. While that is a sobering statistic, you can at least take comfort in the fact that you are here, so you obviously care deeply for your parents and want them to be safe. This means you’re checking in with them, which is a very important component to someone staying safe. However, you are not around every moment of the day, so here are 7 ways that you can help make your parents’ home safer so that you can always have peace of mind knowing that they are as prepared as possible for an emergency.
1. Trip Hazards
A leading cause of injury to older adults is taking a fall. The CDC tells us that over three million older adults visit the emergency department each year because of falls, with over 300 thousand of these falls resulting in hip fractures, and over 30 thousand dying from a fall. Falls are also the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries in older adults.
There are many things that older adults can do to help prevent falls, and these are all great things to discuss with your parents. They include wearing appropriate footwear, checking with their doctor to see if they need any supplements, doing strength training and balance exercises, and making sure they have the correct prescription on their glasses. But, while it’s a good idea to have conversations about these things with your parents if falls are a worry, or have already been an issue, they are not necessarily things that you can oversee. However, there is something you can do to help limit the risk of falls at your parents’ house, and that is by minimizing trip hazards! Here are the top three things you should focus on:
Secure Rugs
Rugs can brighten up a space, but they can also be the culprit in a lot of falls! While, of course, removing rugs is the safest option, that might not make the most sense due to warmth, sound or sentimental needs. So, instead, let’s talk about how you can make rugs as safe as possible.
First of all, the major reason why rugs can be such a hazard is simply due to them not being secured properly. This can be easily remedied by buying a rug pad. Rug pads are placed under your rug and provide traction against the floor so that your rug can’t slide easily.
Another way you should consider securing rugs is by using carpet tape to secure the corners. Corners of older rugs often start to curl, which can provide a sneaky little tripping hazard. Combining tape and a rug pad should help keep your rugs looking stylish and firmly in place.
Something else to consider is where to place a rug in a home. Stay away from placing a rug on any uneven surfaces, or in any highly trafficked areas like right in your entrance way. It’s also wise to stay away from areas that are already more hazardous, like in the bathroom or too close to a heat source.
Reduce Clutter
The second thing you should do to reduce falls in your parents’ home is to help them reduce their clutter. Clutter, especially in a house with poor lighting, or if either of your parents has vision problems, can cause a lot of falls. Plus, it can also be a fire hazard, so grab some boxes and start tossing some things in to donate! If clutter is a major issue, then you might want to enlist the help of a professional cleaner.
Apart from reducing the risk of falls, cleaning up clutter is good for the mind. Clutter can contribute to stress and anxiety, so cleaning up is a win in more ways than one!
Install Grab Bars
Grab bars in crucial areas can provide much needed balance during the times your parents need it most, such as when they’re getting out of a shower or changing their balance at the top of the stairs.
Unless you have the proper knowledge, make sure you get a professional to install the bars, as improper installation could cause an even more serious fall.
2. Good Lighting
Sometimes accidents happen simply because an older adult couldn’t see where they were going. It’s normal for many people to experience changes to their vision as they age, but this could make it more likely for them to fall, or to make a mistake such as leaving the oven on.
To minimize the chance of unfortunate accidents happening, you can update the lights in your parents’ home. Make sure every area has ample amounts of strong direct light, especially in areas such as stairways. Change light bulbs or add more lights to brighten up a space. Be sure to check in with your parents as well. If their vision has gotten worse than something that might seem fine to you might actually be too dark for them.
Something else to look out for is the ease of turning on and off lights. Make sure that all switches are easy to reach and operate. If something is out of the way or tricky to turn your parent might avoid using that light.
3. Emergency Alerts
For a lot of people, their biggest fear is having their parent get into an accident and not be able to call for help. Thankfully, there are many devices on the market that scenario a lot less likely.
You can purchase an emergency alert device for your parent to wear. These might come in the form of a necklace or a watch. These might have buttons for them to press in case they need assistance, but many of them are built with sensors that can detect if someone has had a fall and in that case will put in a direct call to emergency services with the individual’s location. The National Council on Aging put together a robust report on various systems. This can help you select the device with the features that are most needed for your loved one.
4. Check Alarms
While some emergency alert devices monitor air quality, it’s still important to have dedicated detectors for carbon monoxide as well as smoke. These detectors should be placed throughout the home, near bedrooms, kitchens and on every floor. Check with your local fire department for the most up to date recommendations.
All detectors have a shelf life, so be sure to pay attention to when they need to be replaced, and do regular tests to make sure they’re working properly. Also consider your parents’ specific needs. For someone with limited hearing, a different alert system should be purchased, such as one that flashes light or vibrates.
These detectors are always important, even if your parent doesn’t cook or use gas in their home. Fire and carbon monoxide leaks can come from unexpected sources, and you don’t ever want to play the “what if” game. So, make sure your parents have updated alarms throughout their home to give them the best protection possible. If they’re capable of operating them, you might also consider giving them a fire extinguisher or a fire blanket. These are quite easy to demonstrate and can help prevent a small fire from getting out of control. However, only do so if you’re confident in your parent’s ability to operate these devices, and, of course, always encourage them to immediately call 911 and exit their home in the case of an emergency.
5. Security System
Personal alarms, fire and carbon monoxide alarms, what about house alarms?
While no one ever wants to imagine a crime being committed against someone they love, it may be an important consideration when thinking about how to make your parents’ home safer. Many older adults are at a higher risk of crimes such as break-ins due to the fact that many older adults are more vulnerable, isolated, and often have predictable routines that criminals can monitor and take advantage of.
To help protect against robberies, you might consider having a home security system installed at your parents’ home. These systems are designed to detect if someone is trying to break in, and will immediately alert emergency services. While no system is 100 percent effective, having a home security system is much better than leaving your parents completely unprotected. And, sometimes even the act of advertising that one has a security system can be enough to keep thieves at bay.
Aside from installing a security system you can talk to your parents about other ways to safeguard their homes, like keeping doors and windows locked and never leaving their cars running.
6. Have An Emergency Kit
Sometimes we might get lulled into a false sense of security, and because of that we don’t plan for disaster. You live in a mild climate, you go grocery shopping every week, an earthquake has never happened here…
However, you never know when an emergency might happen, or even how it will manifest. Maybe you are the main support for your parent and you fall ill and unconscious for days. During this time your parent isn’t able to get their medication refill or groceries. Yes, it might be unlikely, but why risk it? Think about the unexpected ice storms, floods and other natural disasters that have struck in recent years?
To help make your parent’s home as safe as possible, it’s a good idea to prepare at least one (ideally a few) emergency kits in an easy to access location in their home. These kits should have a first aid kit, some additional medication, blankets and sleeping bags, a flashlight, water purification tablets and non-perishable food. This government website offers some other recommendations for what to keep in a kit. Basically, it should keep you alive in the event of a disaster or other unforeseen circumstances. Don’t dismiss items you don’t think will apply. It might be unexpectedly cold or you might run out of food. It’s always good to have more than you think you need rather than finding out you don’t have enough when you’re in the middle of an emergency.
7. Get to Know the Neighbors
Finally, it might seem like getting to know your neighbors is an odd way to make your home safer, but especially for older adults it might actually be essential. Community is important for everyone, and many older adults struggle with isolation and poor mental health as they age and lose many of their peers.
Building a community within their neighborhood is not only good for their mental health, but also for their physical safety! If your neighbor knows your habits and routine then they’ll likely notice if it’s not followed and check in. If they know you’re lonely or struggling with something, they might come by for a cup of tea or to offer a helping hand.
Of course, you can’t guarantee that every neighborhood is going to get along, but there’s a good chance your parents’ neighbors are also looking for connections, so why not get in touch? Go over with a plate of cookies and introduce yourself.
If your parents are already well enmeshed in their neighborhood, you might suggest swapping contact information with the ones they are closest to. That way they can be in touch if they have any concerns. This isn’t about expecting a neighbor to be your parents’ caregiver, but just about keeping an eye out. If we are all watching out for each other then it helps keep everyone safe and happy.
As much as you might try, you can’t protect your parents from everything. If that was possible then they would have already figured it out while raising you. But, by taking the steps above you can help give your parents a better chance at avoiding accidents in their own homes, or, at the very least, getting help immediately if the unthinkable happens.
