Does your elderly loved one have dementia? If so, and they are still living in their own home, it is important to make sure they stay safe. There are many people who have dementia who will have accidents in their own. There motor skills and decline in cognitive functions are two of the things that could cause issues to their safety. However, depending on the severity of their disease, there are some things that you can do to help your elderly loved one stay safe.
Using Grip Mats
If you are going to help your elderly loved one stay safe in their own home, you might need to put grip mats throughout their home. These should be placed anywhere that your elderly loved one could slip. Some of the most common places that this could happen are bathrooms, kitchens, and anywhere that has hardwood flooring. They should especially be placed by sinks and bathtubs to help prevent your loved one from slipping if the floor gets wet.
Avoiding Clutter
Many elderly adults have a lot of clutter in their homes. Their bedrooms, kitchen, bathroom, and the living room might have clutter. There might be bags, books, computer cords, phone cords, clothing, shoes, and other items in the way. All of these things could cause your elderly loved one to trip and fall. If your elderly loved one has issues with their mobility or vision, this could greatly increase their chances of falling, especially if there is clutter all around. It is important that someone helps your elderly loved one to keep their house picked up to help reduce their risk of falling.
Safety with the Stairs
If your elderly loved one has stairs in their home and they have dementia, this could be a dangerous combination. It is important to make sure to do everything possible to reduce the chances of your loved one getting injured. You can put nightlights along the walkways. You could also have an elevator chair installed to help keep your loved one safe as they are going up or down the stairs.
Medication Tracking
You can also help your elderly loved one to stay safe in their home by setting up a medication tracking plan. Many people who have dementia will forget to take their medications or they might take too much. It would be helpful if you or a home care provider gave your loved one their medications when they are needed.
These are just some of the ways that you can help your elderly loved one to stay safe in their home if they have dementia. Just because your loved one has dementia that doesn’t necessarily mean they can’t live in their home. You just have to do everything possible to keep them safe.
If you or someone you know needs hiring a Homecare in St. Cloud, MN, contact Adara Home Health Care. We provide quality and affordable home care services for many fragile or senior members in the communities we serve.
Call us at (888) 660-5772 for more information.