Welcome to Alicia’s monthly advice column where she’ll provide tips on caring for a loved one with dementia. Alicia Seaver is the Director of Memory Care at Bridges® by EPOCH and is a certified memory impairment specialist. This month’s topic is home safety.
The home can be hazardous for a person of any age, but for seniors, and specifically those living with dementia, there is a very specific set of safety precautions that should be taken, particularly in the wintertime.
Because dementia can affect judgment and behavior, and contribute to confusion of time and place, caregivers should always consider the following hazards when assessing their home for safety.
Is there easy access to the outside? The need to wander is a common symptom of dementia, and unfortunately, it can lead to loved ones wandering from their homes and getting lost. This danger is, of course, more dire in the wintertime when cold temperatures can very quickly become life-threatening. By adding locks to exterior doors and windows in places that aren’t obvious to your loved one, you can help to prevent them from accessing the outside when you are in another room or asleep. You could also consider placing bells on doors and windows or install an alarm system so that you will be notified if an exterior window or door is opened.
What tripping hazards are present? While rugs, little knickknacks and pretty vases are a nice touch to any person’s home, downsizing clutter is a big step in minimizing the risk of tripping, which can lead to painful falls. Walk through your home and take note of any pieces of furniture, rugs included, that seem to jut out or are too big for the space they’re in and consider selling the pieces, giving them to other family or redistributing them throughout the house. Ideally, beyond your initial assessment, you should avoid moving furniture around very often so your loved one feels a sense of familiarity.
Are dangerous objects locked away? When assessing your house, there are some safety hazards that might spring to mind immediately—like a firearm you keep in your closet. Other potentially dangerous objects, like a pocketknife that’s been in the back of the hallway cupboard for years, could easily be forgotten, making it a good idea to inventory each room. Such safety hazards can be gathered and placed in an area like a workroom or the garage, where you can restrict access. Medicine and other hazardous materials that can be ingested should also be locked up, and you should consider placing locks on kitchen cabinets containing knives, and etc.
Are the hallways well lit? Falls, or simply confusion related to the dark, is a possibility in poorly lit areas at night, particularly if your loved one has gotten up from sleep. Placing motion sensor night lights in hallways, your loved one’s bathroom and common areas can reduce risks related to the dark and help your loved one to feel more secure. If you’re caregiving for your spouse, consider night lights in your bedroom as well.
Are you prepared for emergencies? Having a list of emergency phone numbers, outside of 911, is a smart step in preparing for any potential emergency. Consider too if there is an emergency unrelated to your loved one, but you are home alone with them. Mapping out a plan, including having another family member on speed-dial or having a pack with your loved one’s essentials always ready, could help save time in a hectic situation.
Naturally, these aren’t the only hazards and what’s dangerous will depend on the layout of your own specific home. If you are unsure if something is hazardous or not, it would never hurt to have a dementia care specialist walk through your home with you to identify any problem areas.
If there is a topic you would like Alicia to discuss, please send suggestions to [email protected].