Feeling Housebound? Tackle These Projects to Help Your Parents Improve Home Safety
Family caregivers who live with their parents have added concerns during the pandemic. They need to be careful not to inadvertently bring the virus home from a store or work. If they work at home, you need to carefully assert the need for them to avoid interrupting you.
Elderly Care in Arlington County VA: Senior Safety
In your downtime, you can’t go out to restaurants or shopping like you used to. You can’t head out for a night on the town with your friends. You’re at home with your mom and dad. It can be frustrating. Rather than become snappy, come up with a list of things you’ve been meaning to do to make the home safer. Tackle those projects with your parents helping out as much as they can.
Add Non-Slip Decals to a Tub or Shower Floor
Tub and shower floors can be very slippery when they’re wet and soapy. Add non-slip decals to provide traction. It’s an inexpensive, quick way to lower the risk of a fall during a bath or shower.
Apply them to a clean surface. Once the surface is clean and dry, the decals attach just like stickers.
Inspect and Fix Loose Railings
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- Go through the home and check railings. You’ll find railings on the stairs inside and outside the home. There are railings on decks. You may have railings in a split-level home or a loft area.
- Try to wiggle all of the railings and make sure they’re secure. If they’re not stable, they need to be. Tighten the screws. If that’s not enough to fix them, you may need longer screws or new fixtures to make it more secure.
Rearrange and Clean the Kitchen
- Rearrange the layout of things in the kitchen. Items your parents use regularly need to be easy to reach. Place them in lower cabinets or on the counters. You may find that pans are best stored in a lower cabinet that has deep drawers. A coffeemaker may be best placed on a counter within easy reach of a sink.
- Remove scatter rugs that could cause a fall. Clean cupboards, the refrigerator, and the freezer. If there are expired or spoiled foods, get rid of them.
Brighten Dim Rooms, Entryways, and Hallways
- Dim lighting increases the risk of a fall. If you cannot see a pet laying in the hall or an object that’s fallen on the stairs, you could step wrong and fall. Make sure lighting is good enough to illuminate stairs, hallways, and other areas your parents are walking through at night.
- Hallways and entryways may not have enough lighting. Install floor-level battery-powered LED lighting that quickly turns on with a tap of the toe.
Take breaks when needed. Senior care aides can provide you with a chance to go for a walk or drive. A senior care aide can tend to your parents while you work. Call an agency to discuss pricing.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Elderly Care in Arlington County, VA, please contact the caring staff at LivinRite Home Care.
Call Us Today at (703) 634-9991.
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