There is no better place than our homes, and sometimes there seems to be no safer place either. However, for elderly individuals, the house becomes the place where most injuries happen, and these injuries are mainly caused by falls. Normal changes in the body like poor vision, hearing, and limited mobility affect the elderly’s ability to move about safely and comfortably inside their homes. They prevent them from accessing certain sections of the house. Some simple modifications can help to decrease the possibility of an injury for your aged parents. These steps will help them feel more independent, confident, and happy.
Our guide will provide you with essential modifications you need to make to live a safer, healthier life at home for many years to come.
Safety Challenges Elderly Parents Face at Home
Homes are not all made alike. There may be homes that have several floors, some that have halls which are narrow, floors that are uneven, or bathrooms which are not accessible. Even though all these features of a house are quite unimportant for the rest of us, they pose problems for the elderly parents. Such small things as moving from one room to another, climbing up and down the stairs, or just getting access to some objects become a challenge.
Falls on stairs
Falling on stairs is one of the main concerns among seniors. Weak muscles, unbalanced posture, or joint pain may create problems in moving up and down, leading to dangerous falls.
Slippery floors
Slippery tiles or carpets, wet floors, or highly polished floors can easily lead to slipping. Even a minor slip can cause fractures or injuries that take time to heal for older people.
Poor lighting
Low lighting in corridors, stairways, and rooms will affect visibility. This will increase the likelihood of tripping, especially at night.
Difficulty getting in and out of bed or chairs
As the person gets older, strength and flexibility reduce, and it may be hard for the elderly person to stand from a low bed and a soft chair. There is a possibility of strain and pain when trying to get up.
Bathroom hazards
The bathroom setting itself is one that is always wet in nature and has hard surfaces. Accessing the bathtub and shower and going to the toilet independently are potentially hazardous tasks for older persons. You can read the safety guide for using a commode chair at home.
Limited mobility and balance issues
Older individuals might experience restricted mobility and balance difficulties as a result of age or medical concerns. This makes their movement slow, imbalanced, and physically exhausting.
Difficulty reaching high shelves
Often, there is trouble for your elderly parents to access any object that is stored on high shelves as they have to either stretch themselves or use a stepstool.
Mobility Solutions that Help Elderly Parents and Seniors
Wheelchairs
When you notice that your parents are avoiding family events due to problems with walking, getting a wheelchair will help your parents keep up with all the plans. Manual wheelchairs are perfect for short distances when someone is available for assistance, and electric wheelchairs allow seniors to move independently.
Walkers and rollators
Not all the elderly require wheelchairs because what they need is a strong structure to lean against, and that is where walkers and rollators come into use. They make even simple activities of daily living such as walking around the house or going to the local store more secure.
Mobility Scooters
Exhaustion halfway through your shopping trip or walking in the park is usual when your parents get old. The advantage of using mobility scooters helps your aging parents engage in these activities without having to worry about making their way home.
Stairlifts
As people grow old, they tend to avoid the one thing in the entire house – the stairs. The use of stair lift will get rid of this hindrance and ensure that the person moves between levels easily without applying unnecessary pressure to their joints or causing a fall.
Wheelchair ramps
Simple barriers like doorsteps or a couple of entrance stairs can make it challenging to go outside. The use of a wheelchair ramp will provide easy and secure access into and out of the home.
Hospital beds
If getting into a comfortable position in the bed or sitting up becomes too difficult daily, using a hospital bed will make it easier. With adjustable features, it not only makes life more comfortable for the elderly but also easier for their families.
Tips to Reduce the Risk of Falls at Home
The problem of falls by elderly parents becomes an actual concern only when one of the family members experiences such a fall. It is usually nothing serious, and all that was needed to avoid it would be to take certain steps. Something as simple as preventing the floor from becoming wet, providing enough light, and the right mobility device will help a lot.
- Remove non-stable socks and slippers, and wear proper footwear instead.
- Clean up any spills, and do not allow clutter on the ground as well as no looser carpets or wires on the floor.
- Fix a handrail, which the person can grab to support himself while climbing stairs.
- Build ramps where necessary where stairs might pose problems in entering or moving around inside the house.
- Remember about regular vision and hearing examinations, as they both influence a person’s balance.
- Should your doctor or physical therapist recommend that your parent wears a walker, cane, or wheelchair, make sure that he uses them, as these devices facilitate movement.
- Moderate physical activity like walking, stretching, and balance exercises might be helpful if appropriate for their condition.
Emergency Planning Tips for Seniors
Emergencies don’t always come with prior notice. For instance, a fall, any medical complications, or even a power outage can easily turn into an emergency without any previous preparation. Advance planning offers seniors some peace of mind and enables the family to be better prepared in case of emergencies.
- Keep the emergency contact list in a location where they can be easily accessed, like next to the telephone or on the fridge.
- There should be smoke and carbon monoxide detectors placed all around the house and keep checking them frequently to ensure that they are working properly.
- Have an emergency pack consisting of some basic things like medications, first aid materials, bottled water, flashlight, extra batteries, and important documents.
- Have a medical alarm device which will allow the elderly people to ask for help in case of falls or emergencies.
- The contacts and medical information of those family members, caregivers, or close neighbors who would know whom to contact in case of any emergency should be known to everybody.
- If oxygen therapy is needed then have a spare oxygen cylinder available at home.
How Family Members Can Support Aging Parents
Supporting your elderly parent is not about doing more but doing what they need and expect. Some small actions of care and support positively affect their safety, self-confidence, and even quality of life. The elderly will be able to go on doing everything that they have been doing all along without fear because there will be someone who can come to their aid when they need help.
- Do not forget to keep in touch and visit them from time to time. The simplest phone call or visit could alert you to any problem concerning their health or surroundings before anything else.
- Encourage independence as much as possible. Rather than doing everything for them, assist them to do it safely themselves. This will boost their sense of independence and confidence.
- Listen to them. Let them talk about their feelings and struggles. Sometimes, all that they need is just a listening ear.
- Help them pick appropriate mobility equipment. From walkers and wheelchairs to stair lifts and mobility scooters, choosing the right equipment for them can improve their safety and convenience in their daily activities.
- Make sure they get routine medical examinations. Regular visits can allow you to catch any health problems early on and provide them with the necessary assistance.
Final Thoughts
Your elderly parents can have a safer environment at home through simple modifications, use of mobility aids, and some amount of planning that makes their environment safer and enables them to move about freely. MobilityExpress is aware of the fact that everyone deserves to enjoy comfort daily. That is why we offer our customers a variety of quality mobility aids like wheelchairs, stairlifts, hospital beds, mobility scooters, and stairlifts. We take good care of our customers by offering them free delivery, round-the-clock customer support, and free after-sales service.
