Did you know that more than one out of four older adults take a fall each year? While a fall for many of us younger people wouldn’t leave much of a scratch, a fall can potentially become life-threatening for an older adult. It’s certainly understandable that you feel worried about your parents’ safety as they continue to get older. That’s why you might want to know about some simple ways to increase home safety for your aging parents.
Secure Rugs
If your parents have rugs in their house, you should know that these can easily become a tripping hazard. That’s because rugs can move, and feet can catch underneath them or in any of their knotted frills. However, you don’t have to run to their home, roll up their rugs, and toss them in the trash. Instead, you can utilize non-slip pads or gripping tape to keep the rugs secured to the floor. Moreover, you can double-check their rugs for any knots or bumps that could potentially become tripping hazards.
Add a Bed Bolster
Most beds tend to sit around 16 to 24 inches off the floor, and while that seems quite small, it can become a danger if one of your parents rolls over in their sleep. Thankfully, it’s easier than you think to secure your parents in bed. For instance, you can use pool noodles as a bed bolster instead of a bed rail. It may seem surprising that pool noodles help seniors around the house, but they do. You can even secure noodles on the stairway railing if your parent has arthritis.
Install a Shower Bench
The bathroom is one of the most important places you need to pay attention to when increasing home safety for your aging parents. Bathrooms can become incredibly dangerous for seniors, as the slipping risk is quite high. The best option is to install a bench for them to sit on while showering. Moreover, a walk-in shower is safer. But if that’s not possible, you might consider installing railings they can hold onto.