Ways To Make Your Home Grandparents Safe

Having elders at home are a blessing; grandchildren get the opportunity to spend with their grandparents and learn a lot from them. But this could be only possible when these elders are protected from accidents at home; this calls for a few changes to make your home grandfather safe.

Points to be considered to make our homes senior citizen safe:

•  It is very important to realize that the elderly find it very difficult to locate switch boards in a dark room and may bang against furniture. The best way to avoid such mishaps is by replacing ordinary switches with illuminated light switches in all rooms.   

• Technology has given us clap-on, clap-off light system; using this system at home if we could afford it would benefit not only elders but all at home.

• Most grandparents are prone to accidents especially in bathrooms because the floors are so slippery. It would be advisable to go in for slip-resistant floors or to place non- skid mats under rugs.

• Again to prevent accidents in bathrooms it is best to install shower grab bars and toilet grab bars and walk-in-bath-tub. 

• Grandparents would be more comfortable and safe if we install single control faucets in the bathroom for both hot and cold water; this would reduce the chances of accidental burns and confusion.

• Wouldn’t we want our grandparents to feel ease in operating the doors and windows; we sure need to replace all doors and window knobs with levers.

• We can sure prevent the tripping of grandparents at doorsteps, courtyard entrances or any other thresholds by making these thresholds should be made low to minimize accidents.  

• Staircases are other places where grandparents could trip and fall; it is best to install a lift if you could afford it. If not make sure the staircases have railing on both sides to make for safe and smooth movement.

• It is very difficult for elders at home to move about especially at nights; make it a point to provide every room with adequate lighting to avoid accidents due to bumping on things.

• Kitchen is also an accident prone place; make sure the working area is lower than usual and the other equipments are placed in such a way that both grandparents and grandchildren can work safely in it.

•  Have you watched your grandpa enter the house handling the door, removing his footwear, coat and jacket; it is simply not easy. Make life simple for him by providing a place near the door where he can keep the keys, hang the coat and keep the rest of the packets.

• With elders at home using walkers to move around it is best to just have low-pile carpets; this ensures that the walker does not get stuck to the edge and they fall over.