Smart thinking and smart fixes ensure a secure and safe environment. It is applicable both for the senior members and the youngsters in the family. We tend to forget some crucial aspects that might cause issues for aged people. Right from stairs to kitchen and bathroom design and lighting, the house interiors require ‘re-thinking.’ Take this into a priority for the elders, to help them in managing the house and their day-to-day activities without any interference.

The concept of ‘universal designing’ has become very common in recent times. The entire design of the house turns easy, for everybody’s movement, especially for the seniors and some of their ‘compromised’ abilities. The building professionals, architects, and interior designers’ implements the same, while any project is on. The senior citizens present in the house becomes sure that their space caters to their daily requirements.

Below mentioned are six crucial home safety tips for senior citizens. These tips turn the home into a more friendlier, comfortable, and safe one.

Safe staircases

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An older person always prefers a safe place, which is easy to navigate. And it is not at all difficult to make the home safe for their regular walking. Senior citizens, over 70 have the risk of losing balance and falling. The risk increases as they age. Staircase, bathroom floors, and kitchen are some places where the risk of falling is more. Amongst the senior citizens, the rate of accidental falling crosses nearly 3-3.5 million each year. Prevention against this is crucial. Owing to the same, they succumb to severe injuries, like deep cuts, bruises, scrapes, and also fractures and at times such falls can be fatal. Avail the simple precautionary measures to guard them against falling off the staircase. Keep a strict vigil over these specific accident-prone places, and try making the staircase safer by availing specific methods –

  • Always keep the staircase well-lit.
  • Put the skid-proof treads or the highlighted tapes on the non-carpeted staircase.
  • Firmly carpet the attached staircase.
  • Avoid using throw rugs, especially near the staircases.
  • Staircase’s both sides should have proper hand-rails for support.
  • Never stack items and boxes on the sides of the stairs.

Apart from the places mentioned earlier, keep the main entry stairs safe. Most of the time, the senior citizens face problems bringing in their walkers, four-wheel mobility scooters, wheelchairs, or any other medical equipment. Sometimes the various medical professionals, medical support teams, and other related aids require a safer way inside. Plan to make an inclined way, besides the staircase, to make the thoroughfare better.

Single flooring of the entire house

Make the floorings of your home of hardwood, or any other single flooring while constructing or remodeling your house. It is more important for seniors with wheeled supports or using walkers. The transition between one type of flooring to another, like carpet to wood, causes more mobility issues. Plan for single mosaic flooring, without any thresholds or too much of transitions. It will minimalize the chances of falling. Also, never let any loose wire, cords or plugs lie in the midway. It is a potential tripping hazard, and even cause the fire risk due to open electrical connections.

Fire safety measures for senior citizens

The fire safety measures are essential for the aged members at home. Installing the various fire safety measures, smoke detectors, and fire alarms cater to most-valued protection. Keep a small fire extinguisher handy, and teach the elders its usage. They should be independent while using the same for an emergency. Place the fire alarm switch at a comfortable height, and within their reach. Make sure they are aware of its location.

Well-fit and user-friendly bathrooms

Bathrooms are expensive ones to re-model. Many house construction companies recommend taking the precautionary measures to make the bathroom floors slip-resistant. The materials like tiles, marble, ceramic, stands the apt environment for a bad fall.

  • Install a roll-in shower having a hand-held shower head, grab-bars, along with an inbuilt bench.
  • Place the mats with rubber backing or slip-resistant strips in front of the bath-tubs and shower area.
  • Install good quality hand-rails, all along the bath-tub sides and toilets. They all cater to extra support.
  • Always keep the bathroom floors dry.
  • Install a night-light on the way towards the bathroom for night-time navigation.
  • Replace the round-shaped faucet handles and old-fashioned doorknobs with levers. They are easily manageable, with limited grip. They stand capable of senior citizens who have arthritis.

Make the kitchen safe

Like bathrooms, kitchen floors are accident-prone sometimes. Also, the kitchen is the high-traffic zone, making thoroughfare difficult sometimes.

  • Be attentive and clean-up any spills on the floor immediately.
  • To prevent tripping, ensure pushing the dining stairs and stools inside the eating counters or dining table.

Adequate lighting

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Lighting is another significant aspect of independent living, which is generally overlooked. But a house with senior citizens should never take chances. With age, their eye-sights deteriorates. The controls inside the house require proper positioning for easy access. It implies mainly for those on wheelchairs, walkers, or using four-wheel mobility scooters. While the electricity work is in progress, be a smart house-owner. Add some electrical outlets at a comfortable height, used for plugging the night-lamps. Also, install small night-lights all –through the passageways towards the kitchen and bathrooms and hallways.

Closing Thoughts

Staying safe and secure at home helps the elderly loved-ones maintain their freedom and quality life. Prevention of mishaps like sudden falls, electric short-circuit, power-cuts lead to severe injuries and also death! The six home safety tips mentioned above stand as an effective measure in keeping the senior members of your family safe and happy.

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