Do your senior parents or loved ones living alone in their home? Many older adults choose to live independently in their own home or in a senior community apartment during their retirement to enjoy and enrich their life alone. Although some of independent living communities may offer them some help and assistance. But, as a concerned child or loved ones, we always want the best for them and to ensure that they are always safe while living alone.

Here are some tips to ensure your senior loved one’s safety at home.

 

Encourage them to have an active and healthy lifestyle.

Our senior loved one’s lifestyle has a big impact on their health. So, encourage your senior loved ones to be active as much as possible to avoid getting sick or ill. Enroll them in a gym or fitness classes such as yoga, Pilates, strength or aerobic. Their mental health is also important, so make sure they are doing some activities that may boost their memory and brainpower, such as reading the Bible or other books, playing word games, gardening or doing arts and crafts. Also, encourage them to eat healthy and nutritious food and to drink enough water. But, before doing some of these activities or exercises, consult their physician first.

 

Visit and check them regularly.

Allot some time for your senior loved ones and visit them regularly in their home. Always remind them to lock the door and close the windows at night, check if their appliances are working properly and look if their water pipes and faucets are free from leaks to prevent an accident. Or, if your time doesn’t permit you to visit them — call them once in a while and ask them how they are doing.

 

Help them to make a senior-friendly environment.

To ensure that they are safe in their home, check your senior loved ones surrounding and help them create an accident proof home by putting up grab bars and an anti slip mat in the bathroom, installing some monitoring device and adequate lighting. Giving them a medical alert device that is capable to call for assistance during an emergency is a great idea to ensure their safety. Also, assist them to rearrange their furniture and decorate their space to prevent trips and falls. Put their dishes, mugs and other utensils in a lower section of their cupboard or cabinet and organize their knives in a knife rack or holder to prevent cuts and injuries.

 

Also, put an emergency contact numbers in your senior loved one’s mobile phone or write it in a jumbo notepad; and put it in their fridge’s door for easy access. Ensuring our senior loved one’s safety takes some time and effort, but it will keep our mind at peace whenever we are apart from them.