The majority of seniors prefer to age in the comfort and familiarity of home. Older adults with dementia also experience enormous benefits when they reside in their homes. As seniors with dementia age in place, it is necessary to modify their home environment to promote safety.

Dementia is a condition that leads to gradual memory loss, language problems, and a reduction in the ability to problem-solve. Symptoms advance steadily and interfere with the senior’s ability to carry out everyday tasks independently. They begin to rely on caregivers to fulfill their daily needs.

Why are home safety improvements necessary?

Dementia can cause seniors to misplace items or use common appliances in the wrong way. The stove and shower may be difficult to operate for someone whose memory has been impaired by advancing dementia. Preparing meals and showering become challenging without assistance.

Living in the home, as a result, is a trying endeavor for these aging individuals. Caregivers who make home modifications that enhance an older loved one’s safety allow the latter to experience greater freedom and an improved ability to navigate their own home.

Modifying the home does not have to be expensive; even small changes can make a positive difference in the lives of older adults with cognitive impairments, like dementia. These seniors appreciate mobility supports and incontinence equipment as much as memory aids.

Introduce the various safety enhancements into the home as soon as possible after the senior receives a dementia diagnosis. Early introductions allow them to become acquainted with using the equipment and make them a normal part of their everyday routine.

What are safety improvements for the kitchen?

Seniors who enjoy cooking feel at home in the kitchen. But safety improvements made to this important area of the home are necessary to reduce the risk of injury and fire. Opt for specially designed cooking equipment to make meal preparation easier and safer.

Invest in a kettle tipper so that the senior can pour hot water safely. Install grip extensions on the controls of appliances, like the stove. A timer is crucial for reminding seniors that they have food in the oven. Seniors with balance issues benefit from rolling carts to transport items.

Since memory is impaired in older adults with dementia, hang signs on the kitchen cupboards to remind them where ingredients, utensils, and pans are located. Add a comfortable stool to a kitchen nook so that the senior can sit as they fold dinner napkins or knead bread.

 

What are safety improvements for the bathroom?

The bathroom is another essential room in the household. Improve overall safety in this area by installing grab bars near the toilet and inside the shower. Seniors can use the supports to confidently stabilize themselves. Bath seats offer fatigued older adults the option to sit in the shower.

Using a raised toilet seat is easier and safer for aging individuals who are still mobile. Incontinent seniors benefit from a commode or bed pan. Ensure the mattresses and pillows are waterproof. Make dressing simpler and hygienic with convenient pull-up incontinence pants and pads.

What improvements ensure safe mobility?

Older people with dementia are at risk for falls. Prevent a fall and subsequent injury by providing the senior with equipment that keeps them safe, mobile, and independent. Examples include a walking stick that supports their weight, a walker, or a wheelchair.

If the senior uses a wheelchair, install wide doors as well as ramps inside and outside the home. Add grab bars throughout the home for increased support and stability. Height-adjustable beds and riser-recliner chairs are ideal for people who require help with lying down or getting up.

Wandering is a common symptom of dementia. Install locks on doors and windows, camouflage the entryways and exits or set up alarms, motion sensors, or pressure-sensitive mats that alert caregivers. These safety modifications deter wandering seniors from leaving the home.

What improvements help seniors distinguish colors and objects?

Seniors with dementia have trouble differentiating certain colors. For example, a dark mat on the floor may appear to them as a gaping hole. They may not recognize their reflection upon looking into a mirror. Remove these types of home accents to make the environment safer.

Choose a toilet seat in a color that is different from the toilet bowl. Add colored tape to light switch panels so that they stand out from the wall. Hang towels that are different in color to the wall. Lay tablecloths in hues that contrast with food and utensils.

Numerous additional safety improvements can be made, such as locking up cleaning supplies, removing scissors and medications from countertops, installing faucets with automatic shut-off features, and adding bright lighting. Assisting Hands Home Care professionals also add an extra measure of safety.

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Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care from Assisting Hands Home Care

Memory care from our well-rated home care agency should be incorporated into the dementia patient’s care plan. Our dedicated caregivers are trained to identify and help manage the various symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, such as wandering, agitation, and incontinence.

Caregivers provide hands-on care as well as continual supervision. The alertness and attention from our compassionate professionals protect dementia patients from various hazards, such as wandering or failing to turn off the stove. We reduce fall-risks by removing clutter and obstacles.

We successfully use distraction techniques when seniors feel anxious or agitated. If incontinence issues arise, caregivers provide discreet assistance. Our caregivers are pleasant companions and help aging care recipients feel less lonely and isolated through conversations, games, outings, and hobbies.

Skilled caregivers also provide essential support with basic activities, such as healthy meal preparation, personal hygiene tasks, light housekeeping, eating, and medication reminders. We offer care recipients reliable transportation to local destinations, such as doctors’ offices, pharmacies, and senior centers.

Dementia care from Assisting Hands Home Care is preferred by families and their aging loved ones in Winter Garden, Florida, and the surrounding areas. Care services are customized, flexible, and designed to promote the dignity and independence of the seniors we serve. Schedule a free in-home consult today.