Home care safety should be a major concern for anyone who is either a home care patient or a home care provider. Safe home care not only helps seniors and in-home patients live safely and with peace-of-mind, it also protects caregivers. To help a family member or other loved one maintain a level of independence while staying at home, we’re providing some home care safety tips here that will help ensure a safe living environment.
Falls are the number one cause of injury in the home, especially in the kitchen and bathroom. For seniors or anyone who may be unsteady on their feet:
- Use non-slip rubber mats and non-slip rugs in bathtubs or showers and on bathroom, kitchen, and other non-carpeted floors
- Walking surfaces in general should be slip-resistant throughout the home to provide a reliable and consistent tread – tiles and laminates should have a textured or rough surface and carpeting should have a short, dense pile to help prevent catching a toe on deep pile and stumbling
- Patients should wear comfortable, flat, non-slip footwear at all times
- Passageways and other foot-traffic areas should be well-lighted and free from obstacles such as exposed extension cords, extended furniture legs, and other impediments
Lighting is another critical factor for home safety:
- Make sure all lamps and other light fixtures are functioning properly
- Place night lights in key locations throughout the home to help the patient navigate hallways, bathrooms, bedroom entries and other areas in which they may be walking at night
- Ensure that light switches are located so that the patient does not have to walk in the dark to reach them
- Place flashlights where they can be within immediate reach in case of a power failure – this could include in a night stand; a kitchen, end table, or coffee table drawer; and anywhere the patient might regularly spend time in the evening or at night
- Special light switches such as motion sensors or audio-cued (”clap on”) switches may be necessary for patients with specific challenges
General mobility assistance can be a key aid for in-home safety:
- Install grab bars, if needed, near bathtubs and toilets
- Add shower and bathroom seats or benches to help with balance during robing/disrobing and bathing
- Ensure that walking aids such as canes, crutches, and walkers can be easily accessible and conveniently stored wherever they’re needed but not immediately in use
- Check all handrails for stability and security – if necessary install additional handrails in areas where they may not have been previously needed, but are now and in the future as the situation and needs change
The kitchen is one area in particular that can pose a variety of dangers:
- Make sure all appliance controls can be easily read – add larger labels and tags as needed to avoid mistakes in use
- Install a fire extinguisher rated for kitchen fires within reach of the stove and other potentially flammable areas and appliances
- Kitchens are where cleaning supplies and other chemicals are often stored — properly label and store all materials to avoid accidental consumption or improper use
At Metropolitan Home Health Services, Inc., we specialize in providing a wide range of home health services, including home health consulting and care, to support patients and the at-home and professional care providers who care for them.