Keeping Seniors Safe

November 4, 2006

Safety and Security for our Seniors

There are daily reports of seniors living at home by themselves who have been taken advantage of or have had serious preventable accidents. Seniors are at higher risk of having accidents at home alone with no way to reach help.

Here are some measures you can take to help increase the safety and security for the seniors in your family.

The Two Most Dangerous Rooms are the Bathroom and Kitchen

The bathroom is where the chance for slips and falls are the greatest.

The kitchen is where the chance of fire, burns and cuts are the greatest.

Bathroom Safety and Security

Properly install handrails at the tub and/or shower. This will give seniors something to firmly grip while getting in and out.

Make sure there are anti-slip mats on the floors both in the bathing areas and just outside on the floor. This will decrease the risk of slipping and falling.

Installing handrails near the stool area to assist them can be of a great safety help as well.

Kitchen Safety and Security

Safety from Intruders

No one likes the thought of an intruder breaking into their home. The thought of someone entering our parents or other family seniors homes is especially frustrating.

Have a home security system installed, insure the system is capable of panic and/or medical alerts.

With this in mind consider having easily accessible panic or medical buttons around the seniors house. Better yet get a wireless remote that they can wear like a necklace. This type is extremely useful, once they get used to wearing it they then have the ability to use it whenever they need it. To quote an old cliché, "Ive fallen and can't get up".

The remote can also be used to notify the legal authorities should they feel an intruder is attempting to enter the home.

Designate a "safe area" where your senior/s can hide in the event an intruder breaks in?

Home Security alarm systems are a big help, but there are also other things you can do to help ensure your senior is safe at home.

Stop by for a short visit on a regular basis and to monitor and check on your senior.

If your senior is going to be alone for several days, check with your alarm company about the possibility of having a "watch zone" activated as part of the alarm system.

Watch Zone - Typically a motion detector. This zone will monitor for activity and if no activity is seen for a specified amount of time a signal will be sent to the alarm company monitoring station.

Should an emergency arise and you cannot get there quickly, arrange with a neighbor who can. Make sure your senior has the contact information for this neighbor as well.

With a little planning and implementing the suggested measures you can be assured that your seniors can continue to live alone trouble free for several years.

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