Homecare in Long Beach and Home Safety Tips for Seniors
Most seniors prefer to live independently at home. Even when they have diminishing physical and mental capacities, homecare in Long Beach allows seniors to continue to live healthy, happy lives in the comfort of their own homes. Home safety is a critical part of ensuring their well-being, so review these home safety tips to keep your elderly loved one safe in the place they feel the most comfortable.
Fire Safety
Seniors are often less mobile, so fire prevention measures are especially important. You can help prevent fire accidents by ensuring your elderly loved one's carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms are operational. Replace the batteries and use the "test" feature to make sure the devices are working properly. Place smoke detectors in hallways, bedrooms, and the kitchen. It is also a good idea to install a fire extinguisher in the main living area or kitchen where it is easily accessible by your loved one or her Long Beach in-home caregiver.
General Home Safety
There are several areas of safety concerns throughout the house. To prevent injuries and falls, make your loved one has proper-fitting shoes with good soles for walking. If she needs the assistance of a walking aid, such as a cane or walker, ensure it's the right size and is in working order.
Scatter rugs and area rugs should be removed or secured to the floor to avoid slips and falls. Telephone and electrical cords in high-traffic areas should also be removed, or hire a professional technician to run them along or through the walls to prevent tripping. Make sure all carpet is properly secured, and when cleaning floors make sure to use a non-slip cleaner and polisher. Homecare in Long Beach typically includes light housekeeping, so your local homecare agency can help with many of these safety issues.
Bathroom Safety
Make sure recommended bath aids are installed and in proper working order, such as assistance rails around the toilet and handrails for the shower and bath. Place a skid-proof mat on the bottom of the bathtub or shower area. Add a nightlight in the bathroom so that your elderly loved one can easily find her way around in the dark. Prevent burns by keeping the water heater's temperature at 120 degrees Fahrenheit, and mark hot/cold water clearly for your loved one and her Long Beach in-home caregiver.
If she likes the privacy of locking the door to the bathroom, install locks that can be accessed on both sides. You or the in-home caregiver can quickly get to your loved one in the event of an emergency, but she will still have the privacy of a locked door.
Medication Safety
Your elderly loved one probably has medications she takes every day. Homecare in Long Beach typically includes medication management, which ensures all medications are taken on time and in the proper doses. The in-home caregiver can ensure medications are labeled clearly and stored in a secure location. The Long Beach in-home caregiver will also check the expiration dates on all over-the-counter and prescription medications to throw away the ones that are no longer efficacious.
Fire Safety
Seniors are often less mobile, so fire prevention measures are especially important. You can help prevent fire accidents by ensuring your elderly loved one's carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms are operational. Replace the batteries and use the "test" feature to make sure the devices are working properly. Place smoke detectors in hallways, bedrooms, and the kitchen. It is also a good idea to install a fire extinguisher in the main living area or kitchen where it is easily accessible by your loved one or her Long Beach in-home caregiver.
General Home Safety
There are several areas of safety concerns throughout the house. To prevent injuries and falls, make your loved one has proper-fitting shoes with good soles for walking. If she needs the assistance of a walking aid, such as a cane or walker, ensure it's the right size and is in working order.
Scatter rugs and area rugs should be removed or secured to the floor to avoid slips and falls. Telephone and electrical cords in high-traffic areas should also be removed, or hire a professional technician to run them along or through the walls to prevent tripping. Make sure all carpet is properly secured, and when cleaning floors make sure to use a non-slip cleaner and polisher. Homecare in Long Beach typically includes light housekeeping, so your local homecare agency can help with many of these safety issues.
Bathroom Safety
Make sure recommended bath aids are installed and in proper working order, such as assistance rails around the toilet and handrails for the shower and bath. Place a skid-proof mat on the bottom of the bathtub or shower area. Add a nightlight in the bathroom so that your elderly loved one can easily find her way around in the dark. Prevent burns by keeping the water heater's temperature at 120 degrees Fahrenheit, and mark hot/cold water clearly for your loved one and her Long Beach in-home caregiver.
If she likes the privacy of locking the door to the bathroom, install locks that can be accessed on both sides. You or the in-home caregiver can quickly get to your loved one in the event of an emergency, but she will still have the privacy of a locked door.
Medication Safety
Your elderly loved one probably has medications she takes every day. Homecare in Long Beach typically includes medication management, which ensures all medications are taken on time and in the proper doses. The in-home caregiver can ensure medications are labeled clearly and stored in a secure location. The Long Beach in-home caregiver will also check the expiration dates on all over-the-counter and prescription medications to throw away the ones that are no longer efficacious.
Source...