When you first start looking at ways to help your senior to be safer in her home, you might find that adding some tools to her home is what you need to do. But there’s also the budget to consider, so you want to go with inexpensive solutions that make a big difference.
Lighting Improvements
It’s not expensive at all to swap out lower wattage light bulbs for brighter bulbs. If your elderly family member has been using incandescent bulbs still, moving to CFL or LED bulbs can be way brighter even without increasing the wattage. Adding a few table or floor lamps can also make a big difference.
Handrails
Handrails are less expensive to install than you might think. There are even kits that can help you to find the right spot to install them and that walk you through making sure that they’re securely attached to the wall. You want to install handrails anywhere that your elderly family member might need a little extra help with balancing, like in a hallway, in the bathroom, or in the kitchen.
New Door Knobs
You might not think about door knobs from a safety standpoint, but if your elderly family member has arthritis or has other difficulties with hand strength, standard round door knobs can be a problem. Replace them with lever handles and they’re much easier to turn and they don’t require a great deal of strength.
Anti-slip Tape
If your elderly family member has any steps into or out of her home or even stairs inside the home, anti-slip tape might be a good idea. This is a sticky tape that is easy to apply and on the top it has a roughened surface that helps to prevent someone from slipping when they step on the surface. Most is designed for outdoor use, but there are also indoor versions.
Shower Chairs
Standing in the shower can be problematic for an elderly family member with mobility issues and it can be exhausting for aging adults with other issues. Putting a shower chair in the tub or shower stall gives your senior a place to rest while still allowing her to bathe.
Something else that you might want to consider is hiring senior care providers. They can offer your senior hands-on help when she needs it the most. They can also offer you the expertise they’ve collected in making sure that aging family members are as safe as possible in their own homes. From there, you can make strong decisions about what else your senior’s home needs.
If You Or An Aging Loved One Are Considering Hiring Senior Care in Pinellas Park, FL, Please Contact The Caring Staff At Assisting Hands Home Care Today! 727-748-4211.
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Becky Moultrie is Owner and Administrator of Assisting Hands Home Care Serving Pinellas. Guided by a motto to Do Good with Love, she’s well positioned to do just that at Assisting Hands. She has a passion for helping families keep seniors and those who are diabled happy and healthy at home. She serves on a number of boards in Pinellas County including the Pinellas Park Gateway Chamber and Better Living Seniors (BLS), leading the Membership Committee. Annually, she hosts a Silver Santa Party, collecting donations for nearly 100 low income seniors in the county. She attends Blessed Sacrament Church, Seminole where she is an Ascribed Member of the Rosminian Order. When not busy Doing Good in the community, Becky is at home with her husband David & their 4 children, tending to their beehives and digging in the garden.
