Tags: Sarasota Home Health Care Agencies Near Me, Sarasota Home Health Care Services, Sarasota Private Duty Nursing, Sarasota Private Duty Nursing Agencies Near Me, Sarasota Private Duty Nursing Near Me
As your loved one begins to age, you’re starting to notice they’re unable to easily do certain things they once could do without thought. Although they still may be able to get around, it’s not as easy for them anymore. There are also some things around the house that might need to be changed.
Now is the time to make safety improvements around your entire house for the well-being of your aging loved one. Hiring home health care services is a great starting point. With the help of a private home health care service, you can have peace of mind knowing your loved one is cared for.
In the guide below, we’ll discuss a few ways you can ensure your home is safe for seniors and how home health care aides can help. Continue reading to learn more!
1. Reduce the Fall Risk
You come home every day and relax in your safe place. You have no worry in your mind about being injured in your own home. Having a senior live in your house with you might raise some flags, however.
There could be a plethora of unsafe areas in your home for seniors that you may never realize until you have an aging loved one trying to live their daily life there. Below are a few common fall risks in the home and how to prevent them.
- Loose throw rugs — these are tripping hazards that can be corrected by securing the rug to the floor properly or removing it completely
- Cluttered areas — remove all clutter from the floor, including shoes, and donate any unwanted furniture
- Extension cords — remove extension cords from walkways by keeping them secured against walls or behind furniture
If your loved one uses a wheelchair to get around, then you’ll also need to keep all living spaces open and clear so a wheelchair can easily move about.
2. Add Safety Features in the Bathroom
Falls in the bathroom are common because water easily gets on the floor, which creates a slip zone. With the proper safety features, however, you can prevent slips and falls in the bathroom.
Here are a few safety features to consider adding:
- Grab bars in the shower and near the toilet
- Rubber mats on the shower/bathtub floor
- Walk-in bathtubs
- Bathing shower chairs
- Raised toilet seats
- Bathroom nightlights
- Hand-held shower heads
As you help your loved ones with more daily tasks, you might begin to see where they’re struggling. Take note of these struggles and make the necessary changes as you go.
3. Display Emergency Contacts
When your loved one is at home, it’s important they know exactly where to go to find the contact numbers they need. Display all of the most important contact numbers on a large board, such as a whiteboard you can put on the refrigerator. Write out the name of the contact and the number in a large font.
If you or your loved one need to make an emergency phone call, then you’ll have the information available to do so. It’s also beneficial to provide seniors with a basic model phone. This makes it easier for them to make and receive phone calls.
A few emergency contacts to write on the board are as follows:
- Emergency contacts of friends and family members
- 911
- Their primary care doctor
- Their home care services
- Poison Control
Be sure to include any other emergency phone numbers you or your loved one might need.
4. Make the Bedroom Easily Accessible
Your loved one may have some trouble getting in and out of their bed and bedroom as well. To make sure they can easily get in and out, there are a few things you can do. Here’s what to keep in mind.
A soft mattress can be difficult to get in and out of. Replace it with a firm mattress that’s low enough for your loved one to easily sit down on. Also, consider placing safety bars on either side of the bed to assist them.
Round doorknobs can be a challenge for seniors. Replace them with a single-lever door handle instead.
When your loved one is able to get in and out of their bed and bedroom without effort, it can improve their quality of life. Do your best to make things as effortless as possible for them by making these small changes to their bedroom.
5. Hire Home Health Care Services
Staying at home with your loved one is the ideal situation. You want to be with them, keeping an eye on them for as much of the day as possible. However, this isn’t always realistic.
You have errands to run, a job to attend, and many other items on your to-do list. For the times when you’re not able to be there with them, consider hiring home health care services. A professional senior home care service will care for your loved ones and spend time with them when you’re unable to.
Private home health care services bring peace of mind to many families who have a senior at home who needs the aid.
Create a Safe Environment For Your Loved One to Have Peace of Mind
Your loved one deserves the best in-home care. You know you’re the best person to provide them with everything they need, but you can’t always be at the home with them. To help give you peace of mind, create a safe environment and then contact in-home care services for seniors.
Alternative Home Making With a Heart of SW Florida offers home health care services, which include everyday assistance with household chores, respite care, personal care, companionship, Alzheimer’s and dementia care, and transportation.
To see how home health care aides can help you and your loved one, contact us today.
