More
accidents happen at homes than anywhere else. Top causes include falling,
poisoning, fire and burns, drowning, and airway obstructions such as choking,
suffocation and strangulation. Needless to say, safety should be a primary
concern in every household.
How
To Keep Your Home Safe For The Elderly
Studies
show that every year, there are approximately 4000 deaths as a result of a
home accident. Around 120 of these are below 15 whereas 1300 are over 75 years
old. As such, it is imperative to conduct a thorough inspection to ensure that
your DMCIhome is a comfortable and safe place to live in. Here are three (3)
basic tips to keep it elderly-proof.
1. Get rid of all possible hazards around your DMCI residence.
·
Furniture and
fixture. Remove
everything that is not needed. Give enough space for a walker or wheelchair.
Once the elder person has gotten used to the arrangement, make sure that you
keep it as is so he or she will no longer have a need to adjust. Put heavy ones
that will not easily move when leaned on.
·
Cords and wires. Move the electrical
and phone cords out of the walking pathway. Tape or tack them to the walls if
necessary.
·
Floors. Eliminate clutter
on the floor that may lead to tripping. If there are spills, ensure that you
wipe them up immediately and finish up with a nonskid wax. Do remember that
most seniors have problems with balance and eyesight so it is only sensible to
maintain very neat surroundings in all rooms. Repair uneven floorings and loose
hardwood or tiles.
·
Doors and windows. Adjust
rapidly-closing door or windows that require complicated maneuverings.
2. Make things simpler.
·
Lights. Light up the
hallways, bedroom and bathroom. Opt for those that provide indirect or no-glare
lighting. Install the switches in a way that it can be turned on prior to
entering a room. Use automatic nightlights in areas where night activities are
most commonly held. As for bedside lamps, go for brighter bulbs, perhaps with 100
to 150 wattages.
·
Bench. Put a bench near
the room entrances for resting purposes.
·
Cabinets and
shelves. Place
the items that are frequently used on lower shelves to make it quickly
accessible. Add cushioning to the sharp corners of chairs, cabinets and
vanities.
·
Stairs. Add sturdy
handrails to stairways for extra support. Paint the first and last step with
different colors to guide the elder person that he or she is near the edge.
·
Emergency numbers. Have a print-out
of all the people to contact in case of emergencies. Make the font huge,
bold-faced and easy to read. Scatter them around the house and near the phone
area.
· Emergency options. Setup a clear fire-escape route. Position fire extinguishers in most common places – kitchen, laundry room, basement, near bedrooms and garage. Install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms on every floor.
3. Buy products and equipment that are elderly-friendly.
·
Select
phones with larger numbers, have speaker or hands-free capabilities.
·
Choose
talking clocks, wristwatches and other items for those with poor vision.
·
Setup
monitors and intercoms.
·
Configure
an emergency response system
that will summon help automatically.
·
Make
the bathroom ultra-friendly – riser for toilet seats, hand-held shower head,
and bath benches.
·
Create
an easy cooking and dining experience – kitchen implements to easily open cans
and bottles, peel, cut and dice veggies; custom dinnerware to enable eating
with one hand.
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