Making a Home Safer for an Elderly Family Member Part II

In Making a Home Safer for an Elderly Family Member Part I, we discussed a number of objectives that should be achieved when executing a safety plan for a senior family member's home. This included a focus on interior and exterior stairs, outdoor walkways and high-traffic areas inside the home -- all of which can pose hazards if not situated and managed properly. In this second and final part of the series, we'll discuss the two rooms of most households that generally represent the highest level of danger in any home: the kitchen and the bathroom.

Bathroom hazards are often overlooked but in actuality are generally the most significant because use of this room is frequent and unavoidable. First, install no-slip pads under any rugs or mats. If possible, remove mats from in front of the sink and toilet, where tripping over an edge or having it slip out from under you is a serious concern.

Getting on and off the toilet requires strength and equilibrium; something we take for granted until our body is compromised in some way. To aide an elderly family member in this process, consider both a raised, padded toilet seat, and a safety bar attached to a nearby wall. In some cases installation of a phone or intercom system can aid in obtaining assistance in the case of trouble.

Safety bars are also essential in the bathtub or shower stall. Make sure the tub and shower floors have non-slip surfaces and invest in soap and shampoo racks that are designed to prevent the contents from sliding or falling out onto the floor. Towel racks can also inadvertently become "grab" bars, so it's a wise idea to see that they are well secured and can take the stress of being accidentally leaned on.

Check the temperature of the hot water as it comes out of the tap. If it scalds or is too hot to wash with comfortably at its highest level, turn down the temperature directly at the water heater, or have a professional manage this task for you.

Inventory the medicine cabinet. First-aid supplies -- bandages, anti-bacterial creams, etc, -- should be easily reachable. Outdated, long unused, or any medication that could be potentially harmful if accidentally ingested should be discarded. Over-the-counter headache or pain medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen should be clearly marked and in bottles that can be opened easily.

Consider replacing shaving instruments with an electric razor. If an electric toothbrush or an electric razor is used, make sure that the electrical outlet is equipped with -- or replaced by one with --a ground fault interrupter or GFI receptacle -- a requirement in most modern homes.

Mouth rinsing glasses should be made of plastic, not glass -- as should any container holding grooming preparations.

A small bathroom mirror on an extendable rack can eliminate the need to lean over the vanity to peer into the wall mirror. Lighting in the bathroom is important must be adequate for the space, requiring replacement of insufficient bulbs with ones of higher output, and sometimes the installation of additional lights and fixtures.

Finally, be sure that both the path to the bathroom and the bathroom itself are equipped with wall socket nightlights so that nighttime trips to the bathroom are well marked and easily undertaken.

A local in-home care provider is often fully trained to spot hazards such as these and can quickly help you address them. This type of resource can prove invaluable, as many people overlook the most common danger areas -- even when actively seeking them out.

Click here to get in home care services now. Click here for the original source of this article: http://www.pittsburghseniorcare.org/making-home-safer-elderly-family-member-part-ii/

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