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Home Safety for Dementia Patients
Home safety is vital for everyone, but it is more of concern when you have a family member suffering from dementia. When a family member has Alzheimer’s, his rational judgment continues to deteriorate as the disease advances in stages.
Alzheimer’s disease can have the following effects on the patient depending on the stage;
- Behavior: the patient becomes suspicious, fearful and confused
- Judgment: forgetting how to use most of the household appliances
- Physical ability: experience problems with balance
- Senses: patient can experience vision, hearing, sensitivity to heat and depth perception
Dementia Care
It is evident that the disease can cause a lot of disorders to the standard body functioning of your loved one. There are several things in and around your home that can cause harm to the family member suffering from dementia. As such, there is a need for in-home caregiving needs to ensure that the home environment is safe and secure for your loved one.
Dementia care entails doing things that can substantially reduce the risk that someone suffering from the disease might face at home. By doing this, you can help the patient stay safely at home much longer.
In-Home Dementia Care
When caring for a senior suffering from Alzheimer’s related disease at home, caregivers must critically consider the living environment at home. It is important to adapt a home that is free from accidents and ensuring maximum safety standards for the patient. As a caregiver, to keep the stressful and troublesome situations for your loved one at bay, you have to consider the following safety tips for in-home dementia care.
It can be helpful to start off by assessing your loved one’s behavior, health, and physical abilities. It is important to keep in mind that it is much easier to alter the environment than changing the patient’s behavior. After evaluating his or her condition, you can then check for potential hazards and make a substantial change that can suit you loved one’s condition.
Bathroom Safety Tips
- Fix a shower seat and grab bars
- Address slippery surfaces
- Use a faucet cover in the bathtub
- Regulate water temperature
- Remove all potential hazardous electric devices
Kitchen Safety Tips
- Install safety knobs and restrict access to potentially dangerous appliances
- Install childproof latches on drawers to limit access to dangerous kitchen items like knives, matches, gas and electric cookers, and cleaning products.
Living Room Safety Tips
- Keep areas where people walk free from any furniture
- Don’t leave you loved one alone at the fireplace
- Limit decorative objects
Bedroom Safety Tips
- Install a monitoring device to help you hear when your loved one needs assistance.
- Take great care when using heating devices especially the portable ones.
- If you loved one that has a tendency to wake up at night to eat or use the toilet, it is vital that you make prior arrangements for him or her.
Other Dementia Safety Precautions
- Be ready for emergencies
- Check on slippery and uneven surfaces
- Keep stairs clear and safe
- Be sure to check the locks
24 Hour Dementia Care
Some families require 24-hour care for their loved one. This type of care is ideal for people with Alzheimer’s or people with problems such as getting up and moving around the home. With 24-hour care you will have peace of mind knowing that someone will be with them at all times especially during the night when they may need help getting to the bathroom.
Senior Care
Also known as elder care, senior care entails the provision of special requirements that are particularly necessary for the seniors. However, conditions like Alzheimer’s may bring unique challenges when providing care to older adults. As such, when caring for your senior loved one at home, and he or she has Alzheimer’s you need a specialized training so that you can effectively help your senior cope with their condition in their daily life. As a company specialized for in-home caregiving, we can meet your senior’s care needs.
Keep in mind that by paying attention to your home safety, you can help your loved one maintain his or her independence within the household and consequently ease the stress of caregiving. Contact us today and one of our experienced coordinators will schedule a free, no obligation in-home consultation.
