There are a whole lot of things that you need to think about as you convert your home in advance of moving in your parents for their primary caregiving. For starters you want to be sure that you have eliminated any threats that could pose any danger to your parent. Whether that means improving visibility in the home or re-arranging the furniture to make it easy for your parents to get around without tripping over something, converting the home for their comfort and security is of paramount importance.
You and your parents arrived at this decision for the purposes of keeping them healthy and happy. But there is some work to be done. Let’s review some of the most crucial steps that should be taken first, courtesy of your favorite in-home senior care company in Clearwater.
Improve Your Lighting
Seniors can already be dealing with impaired eyesight. It’s a tough challenge that anyone would rather have to avoid and if your parents have vision issues, you need to give them all the help they can get. Examine the condition of the lighting in your home immediately.
Are the bulbs all working? Are they bright enough? Could they be brighter in certain areas in the house and around your property to make it easier to see, places like stairwells, walkways, common areas, and exterior areas? You want to avoid having your elderly parent fall over at all costs.
Remove Obstructions
Check for anything that could make it tougher for a senior to get around inside your home. Many elderly adults can have trouble with their mobility and when something is in their way that increases their risks for a trip and fall accident.
Consider if your rugs or carpets pose any possible problems for a senior to get a foot caught on either. Are there furnishings that encroach in the walkway of a room? What about wires or cords from lamps or electronics that are on the floor? Any of these things may have a hand in one of your aging parents taking a bad fall.
If you do find anything that could be considered problematic, move or remove those items to make it easier for your parents to get around in your home.
Watch Out for Slippery Surfaces
Any place where there is water can pose a hazard to an elderly adult. This makes the bathroom and the bedroom the two most common places where slip and fall incidents occur. Bathtubs and showers are obvious as to the areas that should be secured for your parents. Place a rubber mat on the floors.
Watch out for slick tile flooring in bathrooms as well. Bath mats can be useful but be sure they are secured to the floor and don’t have curling edges that might snag a senior’s footing.
Kitchens are also something to think about with respect to the floor. Most kitchens have tile or linoleum and these can prove slippery, especially if they become wet. Rubber mats are helpful here as well. Kitchens can also have furnishings that could obstruct a senior’s mobility.