Often families think about making changes to an elderly loved one’s home when they live alone; but for some reason, when they choose to move an older adult in they believe that the same standards do not apply. Whenever a senior is moving in, consider their comfort and safety by taking the same steps that you would if they lived elsewhere. Here are some top tips to get you started, and increase their comfort in your home:

1. Install a lower peephole – particularly for seniors that live alone, a peephole is an important security measure. Osteoporosis can cause seniors to lose height, and causing them to strain to see out of a peephole is a danger

2. Reduce glare in the home – for the comfort of seniors, install blinds on the windows that can be adjusted depending upon the amount of light or glare coming into the home

3. Prevent falls with safety measures – put railings on stairs and in the bathroom, and to avoid slips remove area rugs

4. Control water temperatures of the faucets – seniors can scald themselves if they find it challenging to control water

5. Change door handles – seniors with arthritis often have trouble manipulating doorknobs; accommodate them by installing level handles or other assistive devices

6. Try to control clutter – whether a senior is moving in, or you’re trying to make their home a little safer, finding storage for all the extra items that are not regularly used is important to reduce clutter and increase safety

Via: Guide for  Boomers and Seniors who Live with Them

Home Care Walnut Creek, CA delivering home care and elderly services to seniors in the Contra Costa area including Concord. Call us 925-280-9688.

Many boomers dream of owning a second home as they head into retirement.  But instead of caring for a vacation house, they find themselves helping an aging mom and dad avoid the safety pitfalls of the family home.

There’s no doubt where seniors want to be as they age.  The majority of seniors polled in recent industry surveys – typically 90 percent – say they want to stay at home.  But in a 2007 AARP independent living study, two-thirds of Boomer women surveyed said they are concerned about their parents’ ability to live independently as they get older, with 43 percent being very concerned and 26 percent somewhat concerned.

It’s a legitimate fear.  Many seniors and their families don’t think about the fact that homes must adapt to the changing needs of seniors as they age until an accident happens, there are many potential pitfalls that we’ve seen during the home safety reviews that our company conducts before starting service in a client’s home.  Our reviews cover 50 different items throughout a home including the entrance, living areas, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and stairways. 

Many home safety improvements are simple and inexpensive, experts say.  Convincing seniors, on the other hand, is another story.  Danise Levine, assistant director of the IDEA Center at the SUNY (State University of New York) Buffalo School of Architecture, said that denial often comes into play with seniors. 

We see a lot of seniors who don’t want to admit they’re getting older so they don’t want to make changes in their homes,” Levine said.  “Secondly, consumer education is an issue.  If older adults do need help they often don’t know where to go or how much things cost.”

Unfortunately, many home makeover changes are responsive rather than proactive. It’s important for a senior-care professional to conduct a home review to identify various safety pitfalls from poor lighting to the need for adaptive devices in a home. 

That first, important step is to review what needs to be done to keep them at home. It’s one of the most important services that Home Instead Senior Care Walnut Creek provides. Call us for a free home safety checklist - 925-280-9688.

Home Care Walnut Creek, CA delivering home care and elderly services to seniors in the Contra Costa area including Concord. Call us 925-280-9688.