Help seniors feel safer and more comfortable by meeting care needs in their own home.
We all know that home is where the heart is, which is why the hearts of so many older adults are set on remaining at home throughout aging, rather than facing a move to a nursing home or assisted living facility – as many as 90% of them, in fact, according to research conducted by AARP. And it stands to reason: the familiarity of home’s surroundings, the freedom to go wherever, whenever you want, the ability to determine what meals you want to eat and when you want them are all invaluable expressions of self-reliance. However, home safety for elderly love ones is a big concern.
Remaining at home may seem like the ideal plan for aging, but there are a few questions to answer first:
- Can I know for sure my loved one will be safe at home, particularly if living alone?
- How will the senior get from one place to another when driving is no longer an option?
- What will happen if my loved one becomes sick or is hurt, and no one is available to help?
Thankfully, home safety for elderly loved ones is now easier than ever. The following tips can help you ensure your loved one is prepared for these needs and any future ones:
- Evaluate the inside and outside of the home, from the standpoint of the senior’s safety. Be sure that:
- There are grab bars placed near the toilet and tub.
- All throw rugs or other tripping hazards are removed.
- There is sufficient lighting, particularly in hallways and stairways.
- Commonly-used items are within easy reach.
- Emergency phone numbers are displayed prominently in the home.
- Put together a plan for transportation, so that when driving is no longer an option, the senior still has the opportunity to get where he/she needs and wants to go:
- Look into public transportation options where your loved one lives.
- Put together a list of trusted people the senior can contact for transportation needs: friends, neighbors, family members, religious organizations, local senior centers, and Advanced Home Health Care.
- Be sure the senior has access to a PERS (personal emergency response system) or other technology to enable him or her to call for help immediately when needed.
An efficient way for older adults to remain safe at home is by utilizing the services of a professional home care agency, such as Advanced Home Health Care, top provider of rehabilitation services in Mount Pleasant, IA and the surrounding areas. Our fully trained and experienced caregivers can provide a variety of home care services, customized to each person’s unique needs.
We start by creating a personalized care plan that addresses the individual’s specific needs and challenges, and then we monitor that plan ongoing, modifying the plan as needs change over time – ensuring that the senior is safe and able to live life to the fullest where preferred: at home. Contact our home care specialists at 800.791.7785 to learn more about the quality Mount Pleasant, IA home health care and respite home care services we provide. See if we provide home care services in your Iowa community.
