4 Tips to Improve Safety through Proper Home Care

Home Care Services in Marina Del Ray CA

Keeping older individuals safe, especially as they get older and begin to have more difficulty getting around on their own may be one of the top priorities for family members. This is one of the reasons why more than 44 million Americans take on the role of being a family caregiver for an aging or disabled loved one.

Keeping a person safe is definitely one of the top priorities, but it shouldn’t be the only one. The senior should also be encouraged to pursue various interests, stay as active as possible, get the level of exercise their doctor recommends, and much more. For those family members who are extremely concerned about the safety and welfare of their aging mother, father, or other loved one, here are four tips that can improve safety for them within the comfort of their home.

Tip #1: Improve lighting.

Lighting may not be a consideration many people make, especially if they only visit during the daytime hours. Even at night, turning on the lights in each room may seem to be more than enough, but especially with today’s CFL lights that are a requirement (compared to the traditional incandescent light bulbs) the wattage is not quite the same. That means just turning on the lights may not be enough to improve illumination to keep the senior safe.

That senior might not be able to differentiate between shadows, dark areas, or they may also have vision related problems that affect their ability to see as clearly as they used to at night.

Tip #2: Discuss physical capabilities with the senior.

If the senior has difficulty getting up and down the stairs or getting into and out of the shower, there are things that can be done to improve safety for them. Installing stair lifts, grab bars, and other safety items may be a practical solution. You’re not going to know about these issues, though, unless the senior discusses them directly.

Tip #3: Encourage the senior to give up their license to drive.

If the senior is having difficulty while driving, they should be encouraged to give up their driver’s license and rely on professional home care services who can offer transportation services.

Tip #4: Hire an experienced in-home care provider.

Having a caregiver coming to the home on a regular basis and working with the elderly individual is one of the best ways to promote safety each and every day throughout the week.

June is National Safety Month and adhering to these tips will improve safety for any senior living at home, whether they are alone, living with their spouse, or living with another senior at this time.

If you or an aging loved one needs home care services in Marina Del Ray, CA, call Livewell Private Care at (310) 933-4986.  Servicing Los Angeles, CA, and the surrounding areas.