Seniors age 85 and older are five times more likely to die in a fire than those younger mostly because of physical impairments. In addition, falls in the home can cause fractures, which can lead to loss of independence and health complications. During home safety month seniors and their caregivers should take steps to create a safer home environment.
The Home Safety Council has a webpage geared specifically towards seniors and their loved ones. You can create a custom safety checklist depending on the type of home you have, and visit “Tour My Safe Home” to check out safety tips for each room of the house, depending on the type of accident you want to prevent such as falls, fires, or poisoning. A safe environment can allow older adults to live independently for a longer time in their own home. Certain chronic diseases can increase the likelihood that a person will injure themselves at home. For more information on how Alzheimer’s may put your loved one at risk, check out the Alliance’s caregiver workbook, which includes a home safety checklist specifically geared towards those with Alzheimer’s disease. Fixing safety hazards in our home is an easy way to help keep ourselves and our loved ones safe.
This post was written by Valerie Hagan, former Health Programs Coordinator at the Alliance.
