June is Home Safety Month, so there’s no better time to discuss how caregivers can help ensure a safe home environment.
Seniors are involved in over 2 million accidents in the home per year. If you want to help yourself or your loved one remain safe in their home, hiring a caregiver is one of the best things you can do. We are dedicated and experienced when it comes to helping one maintain a safe home environment. And a safe environment means better quality of life and prolonged independence!
It’s normal to forget small odds and ends. How many times have you gone into a room to get something and forgotten what that was? We all do it!
The problem is, sometimes infrequent forgetfulness becomes frequent. Or a little loss of balance becomes a potential fall. We can help you create a safe and secure home.
5 Ways Caregivers Improve Your Safety at Home
- Caregivers provide peace of mind to families of seniors! Often, when a senior is at home, the rest of their family is usually at work or busy with other commitments – they can’t always be available for visits. This is where we see our caregivers being the biggest help. Our friendly staff will be able to visit, help out within the home and provide companionship. We will know if something is amiss within the house or with you or your loved one. That second set of eyes? Priceless!
- Caregivers can provide an assessment of your home to decrease fall risk. Since falls are one of the most common accidents that occur for seniors, it’s imperative that a senior’s home is evaluated to decrease any potential dangers and eliminate the potential of falls and bumping into things. You’d be surprised how moving small items such as a small trash bin to large items such as a couch can make an enormous impact on the flow of your living space and therefore decrease unnecessary risks of fall. While you may think it’s hard to have someone come in the house to do this for you, know that we have the utmost respect for your home, and will work with you and your wishes to create the safest and most comfortable living environment for you.
- Caregivers can help install safety resources. Do you know if your carbon monoxide and smoke detector are up to date? Is your house well lit? What is your water temperature, can it get too hot and scald you? Are your railings and stairs loose or are they sturdy? Do you have a flashlight near your bed in the event of a power outage? Where do you keep your phone? What about a grip bar in the shower to decrease the risk of a fall in the bathroom? When you have an in-home caregiver, they can check on these things for you and help you replace devices or make calls to ensure any necessary home improvements are made to increase a safe living environment. Their experience means they are used to detecting risks that we often overlook until it’s too late.
- Use it or lose it! Visits from caregivers boost brain and physical function. From playing games to going for a walk, or simply sitting outside when you use your brain and your body, they become stronger. This means that when you’re home, you will be sharper in mind and stronger in body. When our brains are stimulated we are more alert, and this can help us be less forgetful. When we go for a walk or get light exercise, our circulation gets going and our balance and strength are improved, which can decrease a risk of fall.
- Most of all, caregivers will get to know you and will know when you are showing changes that could put you in danger. When a caregiver visits you regularly, they will come to know your personality and how you’re feeling. These visits ensure that if you begin to show signs of a safety risk, someone will be there to see you.
We are here for you and your family. Contact us to chat about what services are best for you!
Be well!
