Keeping your senior safe at home starts with simple things, like reducing her risk of falling as much as possible. One good place to start is with your senior’s floors, since that’s where she’s walking. Companion care at home care services can help overseeing this task.
Look for Ways to Secure Rugs and Carpets
Rugs and even carpets can be a lot more slippery than you or your senior might realize. Use a non-slip rug underlay wherever possible. These help to keep the rug from moving without damaging the rug or the flooring underneath. Carpet tape may be another option. If there are holes in carpet or the carpet seems to not be secured to the floor, it might be a good idea to have that fixed more permanently.
Keep Pathways Clear
It’s really easy for pathways in your senior’s home to start to get smaller and smaller until it actually gets dangerous. You want to be on the lookout for things like cords that cross the path or furniture that is badly positioned. Moving furniture to give your senior more room to maneuver safely is a good idea. It might also be a good idea to talk to her about decluttering if she’s collected more items than she has space for in her home.
Consider Contrasting Colors in Some Spots
Vision changes can also present problems for your elderly family member as she moves through her home. It’s helpful sometimes to consider using contrasting colors as much as possible. Painting the door frame and baseboards a bright color can help to serve as a good contrast against a white or light-colored rug or floor, for instance. That helps your senior to see where she’s going more readily.
Line up Companion Care at Home Services for Extra Help for Your Senior
Something else to consider is bringing companion care at home providers into the home for your elderly family member. This is especially important if your senior is determined to age in place and doesn’t want to leave her home. Keeping up with household tasks, like making sure the floor is clean and clear of clutter, can sometimes feel overwhelming. Companion care at home providers can help with that, though. Companion care at home providers can also help you to stay aware of any other challenges that your senior might be facing that could lead to a possible fall.
Reducing your senior’s fall risk is a constant challenge. Work with her doctor to understand how your senior’s health and well-being affect her fall risk, too, so that you have a full picture of what she needs.