For seniors living alone in their homes, safety should always come first. There is a growing popularity with seniors utilizing medical alert systems; however, even with regular visits from a caregiver and an alert system, nothing guarantees your safety. It is extremely important to be proactive with safety issues by identifying the parts of your home that may pose a threat and doing something about it. Below are five tips to help seniors living alone stay safe.
1. Fire Extinguishers and Smoke Detectors
Always have fire extinguishers and smoke detectors on all floors of your home. For seniors living alone, it is extremely helpful to detect a fire or smoke as quickly as possible. Without properly working smoke detectors, you might not be able to notice a fire in the home until it is out of control. Fire extinguishers placed throughout the home will help you control a fire in its nascent stage, or help you have a good escape route when there is a fire. Check smoke detector batteries on a regular basis to make sure the detector is working.
2. Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Have a carbon monoxide detector installed in your home. Because carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas and deadly at elevated concentrations, a detector is the safe way to go. When carbon monoxide is inhaled, it can cause you to be sleepy, which you might mistake as being normal. This gas kills people, but having a detector will give you an indication if it is present in the home early enough to get out.
3. Wireless Alarm System
Even if you lock your doors, it is a good idea to find a way to secure home wirelessly with an alarm system. No matter how “good” your neighborhood might seem, a burglar can strike anywhere and at anytime. You do not need to have a complicated alarm system, but one that alerts you and the authorities that someone has broken into your home is a great idea. When an alarm system sounds, a burglar will usually run. Most burglars will not attempt to enter a home that is secured with a wireless alarm system.
4. Good Lighting
Have good lighting around your home. For seniors with vision problems, not having good lighting will increase the risks of accidental falls. Having good lighting in hallways, bathrooms, garages and on staircases will help reduce accidents.
5. Scatter Rugs
Seniors should remove any scatter rugs from around the home because they are potentially hazardous. If you cannot take the rugs out, tack them down by the edges. These rugs have a strong potential of tripping the senior. When living alone, a fall is the last thing you need.
These safety tips for seniors are some of the simplest ways to make the home safer. There are a lot more ways to make your home safer. Look around and modify anything you see that might pose a hazard.