HOME SAFETY TIPS

Here are tips you may use to make your household environment more "user friendly" for yourself or your loved ones. These are merely suggestions and ideas to "safe proof" you and your home as well as to protect you from mishaps and accidents.

Home Furnishing
Furniture should be positioned in low-traffic areas such as corners and sections of the room, out of the range of mobility. Individuals with sight impairments or mobility problems may run into furniture more easily.

Furniture should be stable and without sharp corners, if possible. This will minimize the chances of injury.

Avoid the use of scatter/throw rugs, as they may cause a person to trip and fall. Consider the placement of barriers or gates at the top and/or bottom of stairs or dangerous areas. This may prevent individuals from falling or injuring themselves, especially those with orientation problems (dementia patients, Alzheimer's patients) or stability issues.

Lighting and Colors
Lighting levels should be fairly consistent throughout the home. Individuals have a difficult time focusing when they move from light to dark and vice versa, especially those with vision impairments.

Avoid shiny surfaces, as they may cause a glare, and make it more difficult to see. Keep walkways and bathrooms well lit, and invest in several night lights throughout the house.

Keep several flashlights on hand in case of a power outage. One should be kept in the bedroom near the bed and others in areas where the most time is spent (e.g. den, living room, basement etc.). Do not use candles as they can be a fire hazard. Colors: yellows, oranges and reds are most easily distinguished by individuals with vision impairments. Use contrasting colors in areas where there are doorways, and walls, steps and other structurally challenged areas. Contrasting colors are more easily recognized than closely related colors.

Hearing Impairments
In order to filter out extraneous noise, floors should be carpeted and windows should have curtains to minimize echoes and sharp noises.

If an individual is hearing impaired, he/she may want to purchase a "telephone notification device" which flashes each time the telephone rings. Similar devices which flash when the doorbell rings are also available.

Mobility Assistance
Grab bars may be a wise investment for a household, especially for individuals with wheelchairs or stability problems. Grab bars are most useful in bathrooms. They can offer support and assistance with getting in/out of the tub and on/off the toilet. They are certainly an added bonus anywhere else throughout the house. They can be purchased at medical supply stores or hardware stores. Handrails are also helpful items. They are especially useful for staircases, if an individual will be going up or down stairs often. Bars should be properly installed by a knowledgeable individual to avoid mistakes and mishaps.

Specific Living Areas - What to Do

Bathrooms The bathroom is the most likely area of a household where a person may fall. Placing non-skid adhesive strips in the tub or on the floor of the bathroom is an easy and inexpensive way to prevent falls.

Tub seats are also extras that may assist an individual with mobility issues. They permit individuals in wheelchairs or those with minimal strength in their arms and legs to maneuver into the tub/shower area.

Hand-held shower attachments are a good investment for those individuals experiencing difficulty with mobility in their arm and wrist joints, such as arthritis sufferers.

Bedrooms, Living Rooms
Keep extension cords in an "out of the way" place (such as behind furniture) to prevent tripping and failing. Furniture legs should not be on electrical cords because cords can wear down. Do not place extension cords in "high traffic areas" or under rugs, as they can wear down and cause fires. It may be a good idea to invest in a cord ramp protector to place over the cords. Cords should still be checked every so often for wear and tear.

Shelves should be strategically placed in bedroom and living room areas to limit reaching. Shelves should be low enough to avoid using a stepstool. All items should be at eye level in order to find them easily.

Bells and Buzzers
When operated by the touch of a button, these devices or emergency response systems will send a signal to an individual, a physician, rescue squad, or 911. Certain devices will only contact one individual or 911 (the "911" regulations vary from municipality to municipality), others will signal a series of persons until a contact is made. The cost of these devices range from $100-$350, depending on the services you want/need. These devices are available through specialty or burglar alarm companies.

Outside Lighting
It is a good idea to have ample lighting outside, especially on porches and walkways leading to one's home, as well as driveways and garages. Lights and sensor lights (lights that automatically go on when a motion is detected) may be purchased at most hardware stores.

Check-Ins
It is a wise idea to check-in with someone such as a family member, a friend or a neighbor on a daily basis. This way, if you are unable to get to the phone or need particular assistance on a given day, the absence of the call will signal someone that something may be wrong.

Make certain that the following information is displayed by the phone:

YOUR NAME
YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER
YOUR ADDRESS
NAME AND TELEPHONE NUMBER OF YOUR PHYSICIAN
NAME(S) AND TELEPHONE NUMBER(S) OF PERSON(S) TO CONTACT IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY

You may want to place a LIST OF YOUR PRESCRIPTIONS and their respective dosages on your refrigerator in case you are unable to tell someone what medications you are taking.

Home Repair Service Areas
Most states have a local planning organization which assists the elderly with minor home repairs. Conditions in the homes of elderly persons can potentially threaten their health and safety. Services to meet their needs include:

• Conducting a needs assessment of the residence
• Light carpentry
• Repairing leaking roofs
• Repairing broken windows, doors, steps, cracked or damaged floors and fallen ceilings
• Repairing toilet/general plumbing
• Providing counseling and education about home repairs

Shelves
Shelves should not be placed above the cooking area, as clothing may catch on fire. Also, if the stove is near a window, avoid the use of draperies for that window. Install venetian blinds/mini blinds in place of curtains, as curtains may catch on fire easily with the stove below them.

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