5 Tips for Increasing Home Safety for Loved Ones with Alzheimer’s

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An Alzheimer’s diagnosis requires making some changes around your senior loved one’s home to keep him or her safe as the condition progresses. People with Alzheimer’s tend to face challenges with depth perception, memory, and decision-making that can place them at higher risk for serious injuries. Making these five adjustments to your loved one’s home can help him or her stay safe.

1. Move Hazardous Materials to a Safe Location

Many seniors have items they use for hobbies and housekeeping that could become dangerous as their cognitive abilities change. For example, your loved one might get hurt using an electric weed trimmer if he or she gets confused and tries to do yard work. Putting dangerous items behind locked doors prevents your loved one from being harmed but allows your family to have access to necessities such as cleaning products.

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2. Adjust the Hot Water Temperature

Burns and scalds are more common among older adults whose thinner skin may not offer as much protection against hot water as it did when they were younger. Seniors with Alzheimer’s may also lack awareness that hot water is hitting their skin, or they may forget which knob is which. Making sure the water heater is set to a safe temperature means your loved one can enjoy some warmth without getting a major burn.

3. Install Automatic Shutoffs on Heated Appliances

Reducing your loved one’s fire risk is also critical. Aging adults with memory loss often forget to turn off appliances, which can lead to house fires. If possible, choose new appliances that automatically shut off if they’re left on for too long. You might also use special plugs that provide the same feature, or you could choose to use smart home automation to check on and control the status of appliances remotely.

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4. Focus on Fall Prevention

All seniors are at risk for serious injuries from falls, but those with Alzheimer’s may have a heightened risk due to a diminished ability to judge depths and distances. If your loved one has stairs in his or her home, highlight each one using colored tape so he or she can see the way up and down. Making sure the handrail is secure also helps. If possible, try to avoid rearranging furniture, which can help your loved one be able to rely on muscle memory to guide him or her through a room.

5. Use Multiple Strategies to Prevent Wandering

Increasing home safety also involves making sure your loved one doesn’t wander away from home. Some families place signs on doors to serve as reminders that their loved ones shouldn’t leave. Or you might need to move your loved one’s keys to a hidden location. As your loved one’s wandering risk increases, you’ll also want to add more extensive forms of security, such as having an in-home caregiver watch your loved one while you’re away or asleep. 

If your senior loved one has Alzheimer’s and needs help managing daily tasks, reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care, a leading provider of Alzheimer’s Care. Milwaukee Assisting Hands Home Care provides reliable caregivers around the clock to help your loved one age in place safely and comfortably while living with Alzheimer’s disease. To create a comprehensive in-home care plan for your parent, give us a call at (262) 228-4467 today.