Home Safety is a Priority for Portland Seniors with Alzheimer’s Disease

Making Sure Portland Seniors with Alzhiemer’s Disease Can Move Around the House Safely

Falls are the most common cause of injuries among senior citizens and the top reason for a hospital admission for trauma. One-third of people aged 65 and over will fall at least once each year. Falls can lead to traumatic brain injury, hospitalizations and concussions, and bone fractures.

Tips to help prevent falls and injuries:

• Simplify your home. Too much furniture can make it hard to move around freely.
• Get rid of clutter, such as piles of papers and magazines
• Have a sturdy handrail on stairways
• Put carpet on stairs, or mark the edges of steps with brightly colored tape so the person can see them more easily.
• Put a gate across the stairs if the person has balance problems
• Remove small throw rugs, and use rugs with nonskid backing
• Make sure cords to electrical outlets are out of the way or tacked to baseboards
• Clean spills immediately 

Make sure the person with Alzheimer’s has good floor traction for walking. To make floors less slippery, leave floors unpolished or install nonskid strips. Shoes and slippers with good traction also help the person move around safely.

BrightStar Care of Portland can help families with caregiving for loved ones living with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.

To learn about our services, read about our In-Home Senior Care in Portland.