Home Care Safety for the Caregiver

Improving support and safety throughout the home:

Have smoke detectors installed near kitchen and bedrooms
Have safety rails in showers and tubs
Install handrails up stairs and in bathrooms
Use non-slip flooring in kitchens and bathrooms
Remove any loose rugs
Move furniture around to create less confusion
Remove any dangling telephone cords
Mirrors can distort the loved one’s view when walking, and should not be placed where they can easily be bumped into
Ways to correct visibility and lighting problems:
Use bright, vivid colors to light up rooms
Make sure hallways and stairways are well lit
Lighted switch plates make finding switches at night easier
Have night lights in between bedrooms and bathrooms
Use easily reached cords that can turn a light on and off in closets
Basements should be very well lit considering the steepness of stairs going up and down

Methods to improve movement and sight throughout the house:

Use rails in beds to support movement getting in and out of bed
Use lever handle door knobs instead of circular knobs
Use a flexible shower head and a chair for your loved one to sit on when bathing
If they are wheelchair bound, have a ramp installed that can be used to get them up the front steps or stairways
Use large button telephones
Clocks should be large enough with both numbers and dials easily seen
A commode near their bed can be used in emergencies
Shelving in closets should sit low enough for easy access
Place a raised toilet seat in their bathroom 
Chairs need to sit high enough and be supported by arm rests so there is some security when they sit

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