Growing old can be a beautiful thing, but for some it can be worrying. 30% of people over the age of 65 will fall and hurt themselves this year. Trips and falls to a younger demographic does not mean much, but to the elderly they can be life threatening.
Today we will take a look at some of the ways in which you can make your home safer as you grow older, so you can get back to enjoying your life.
Installing A Stair Lift
Elderly people can have trouble moving up and down the stairs and because of this the staircase is a place in the home where many accidents occur. Installing a stair lift in your home is a great way of making your home more accessible, easier to use and safer.
A stair lift can be an expensive investment but it could be an investment that could save your or a loved one’s life. Stair lift companies also offer affordable payment plans and are very helpful when it comes to choosing the best option for your home.
You may think installing a stairlift takes away some of your independence, but the opposite is true. A stairlift allows you to move around your home safely and freely without having to worry about navigating the stairs.
Installing A Phone System On Every Level
Trips and falls can happen anywhere in the house, so it is important to have access to a telephone system on every level of your home, next to this system you will need to keep a note of your emergency numbers to ring incase of an accident.
Getting a phone system installed is inexpensive and could save your life. If you can afford to invest a little more you could also invest in a personal alarm system for the elderly, as this takes away the need of having to make it to the phone in the event of an emergency and also does not require you to remember or keep a note of your emergency contacts.
Remove Clutter
Clutter such as old books, magazines, grandchildrens toys and anything else laying on the floor that could cause a trip or fall should be removed. Elderly people love to keep their old items and getting them to give them up can be a challenge in themselves. If you are having trouble getting an elderly relative to give up these older items you can consider putting them into storage.
Remove Trip Hazards
Fall and trip hazards such as loose fitting carpets, uneven flooring, wires hanging out from furniture and slippery rugs can all cause an older person to have an accident. To make your home safer you should do a safety audit where you go through each room in your home and mark off anything that could cause an accident. When you are done go back through the list and get someone to help you to either get rid of the items or to fix the items on the list.
Install Accessible Fittings
There are many accessible fittings you can install in your home to make it safer. Grab rails and accessible furniture such as walk-in-baths can make going to the bathroom much easier as an elderly person. Once again some of these items can be expensive but they could also save a life.
Conclusion
Above are some of the best ways to make your home safer as you grow older. If you have any tips or suggestions please put them in the comment section below.
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