Is Your San Francisco or Marin County Senior Loved One with Alzheimer’s Disease Safe at Home?
Home safety is important for all seniors, but it is especially vital for those with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Taking preventive steps is important to avoid falls and other accidents, as well as to prevent your loved one from wandering off.
Make Sure that Rooms and Hallways:
- Have non-slip walking surfaces
- Have sufficient lighting; consider nightlights if your loved one walks around at night
- Are not obstructed by furniture, cords, or clutter
- For stairs, make sure handrails are secure and install safety strips on the steps
Prevent Accidents:
- It is important that dangerous items or complicated appliances be placed out of the reach
- Consider automatic shut-off devices for appliances such as ovens and toasters or storing them when they are not in use
- Items such as weapons, household cleaners and chemicals, or matches should be placed in locked cabinets
Prevent Wandering:
- Locks are an easy way to prevent your loved one from opening windows or doors and wandering
- Outside windows and doors should have locks installed in out of sight places near the top or bottom of the doorframe
- Locks should be removed from bathroom doors or other rooms in the house where loved ones could inadvertently trap themselves inside.
- Child-proofing devices or locks on cabinets may be needed to safeguard cleaning supplies, medications, and other potentially harmful items or substances