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Creating a safe home for seniors

<div class="ExternalClass8FD844D839D0423EAAF06220F526525A"><p>Your elderly friends or family members have special household safety and comfort needs because of their loss of mobility and agility. <span class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-2-0"></span>Follow these guidelines to make your senior’s home and transport as safe, secure and comfortable as possible.</p></div>

<h2 class="sectHeading">Basic safety measures</h2><p> <b>Adding the following items to your senior’s home will make them safer and more comfortable:</b></p><ul><li> Install grab bars, ramps and railings.</li><li> Raise chair heights to make it easier to sit and to stand from a seated position.</li><li> Set geyser to 50’c or less to prevent burns.</li><li> Keep hand torches available in every room of the house.</li><li> Program emergency numbers into your elderly loved one’s cell phone and have lists handy.</li><li> Make sure that all exits are clear of obstructions.</li><li> Install smoke alarms in the home.</li><li> Place fire extinguishers in the kitchen.</li><li> Cover up exposed hot water pipes.</li><li> Add extra light switches (or those that turn on and off by clapping hands).</li><li> Make sure your street sign and the number of your house is large, well lit and unobstructed so that emergency personnel have no trouble finding it.</li><li> Your loved one should wear a medic alert bracelet noting their ailment and the medication they’re on.</li></ul><h2 class="sectHeading">Security at home for seniors</h2><p> <b>It is easy to keep an elderly loved one secure, even if they are not living with you, by following these guidelines:</b></p><ul><li> Encourage your elderly loved one to wear a panic button with which they can contact the relevant authority (such as the retirement home control centre) in case of an emergency.</li><li> Inform the control centre that your loved one may not be able to answer the phone if they are injured.</li><li> Leave a spare key with a trusted neighbour if your senior is forgetful.</li><li> Install an alarm system that is monitored for burglary, fire and medical emergencies.</li></ul><h2 class="sectHeading">Make daily activities easier</h2><p> <b>Here are a few things you can do to make your senior’s daily life easier:</b></p><ul><li>Store items on lower shelves so they’re easy to reach (especially for wheelchair users).</li><li>For seniors with bad eyesight, install a phone with larger numbers (found at medical supply stores).</li><li>Buy step stools with handrails.</li><li>Buy footwear with non-skid soles.</li><li>Buy mobility scooters and walkers for getting around.</li><li>Buy a reaching device.</li></ul><h2 class="sectHeading">Private vehicles</h2><p>Ease of exit and entry should be a priority for the frail and this must be taken into account when you select a car to transport your senior in. </p><p> <strong>Keep the following tips in mind when choosing a car for your senior:</strong></p><ul><li> Avoid low-slung sports cars, trucks and SUVs.</li><li> Minivans, crossovers and sedans offer good ease of access.</li><li> Certain minivans don’t require a huge step up to get into the vehicle and their seats are at hip level, so they’re easier for your senior to lower into and get out of.</li><li> Most minivans offer doors that can be opened and closed remotely.</li><li> Crossovers have higher seats, so the frail won’t have to lower themselves too low.</li><li> Look out for doors that can swing wide open.</li><li> Look for a vehicle with plenty of interior room.</li><li> Look for a low-cargo floor so that when lifting heavy items (like a wheelchair), you won’t have to lift too high.</li></ul><p> <b>You can also install useful technology in your car that will enable you to help seniors:</b> </p><ul><li> A communications service that will connect you to emergency workers</li><li> Navigation systems (GPS) that can find and direct you to your nearest hospital or pharmacy</li><li> Hands-free Bluetooth phone system (especially those with voice commands)</li></ul><p>For ti<span class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-2-0">ps on helping elderly family members or friends with injuries, please see </span> <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/Family-care-and-support/Elderly-family-members/Avoiding-and-treating-senior-injuries"> <span class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-2-0"> <span class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-5-3"> Avoiding and treating injuries in seniors</span>..</span></a></p>

Follow these useful tips to ensure that the home in which your elderly loved one is as safe as possible.