Safe Home!
As Alzheimer’s disease erodes your loved one’s memory, their perception of what they see, and their reasoning powers, a house can become a far more hazardous place for them to be.
Dear Caregivers,
It's great to be back home after work responsibilities require that I be away for a long period of time. While I enjoy exploring new environments, I really love how I feel when I’m back in my safe, secure, and familiar setting.
For your loved one, however, their house (or yours, should they be living with you) may not be such a comfort. As Alzheimer’s disease erodes their memory, their perception of what they see, and their reasoning powers, a house can become a far more hazardous place for them to be.
But with the right changes to the environment, adjusting and then sticking to their routines, and adding a few simple tools, you can make their home far safer, and give your loved one a greater sense of security and independence.
Here are some guidelines:
Make It Easier to Get Around: Remove extraneous boxes or other containers, long extension cords, and other obstacles that might be in hallways or other walkway areas. Install safety bars in the bathroom near the bathtub, shower, and toilet. Refrain from rearranging the furniture, as it might cause your loved one some confusion about where they are.
Shed Some Light: Brighten hallways and other places where it seems dim with additional lighting. Make sure you have nightlights in the bedrooms, bathrooms, and along corridors.
Keep It Locked: Make sure that medicine cabinets, kitchen areas, and closets with cleaning supplies have safety locks that your loved one cannot open. Often locks that require a key, or combination you can set, is best.
Stop, Look, and Listen: If you feel comfortable with technology, consider installing video and audio monitoring devices that can help you keep an eye on your loved one even if you are not in the same room or building. Monitors that are sold to new parents to care for newborns also work well for the care of older adults. Another strategy is to install “smart plugs” that can turn off appliances automatically to help prevent accidents.
Do Regular Check-ins: If you can’t be there to check in on your loved one, make sure you can rely on someone else to stop in on a regular basis to make sure everything is all right.
Be Ready To Adapt: Since Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease, continually gauge how well your loved one is coping with their environment and make adjustments as needed.
As always, your personal NAN Navigator can give you some advice on how to best meet the needs of your loved one and create a safe and happy home environment!
Here are a few more thoughts on home safety:
Is It Safe To Leave My Loved One Alone in the House?
One of the biggest responsibilities that comes with caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease is keeping them safe. This can be challenging as Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease, and so it can be hard to know when your loved one’s capabilities have declined to the point that you can no longer leave them safely alone by themselves. Here are some signs that indicate when it is no longer safe to leave your loved one alone in the house.
How to Reduce the Risk of Falls:
Many falls can be prevented. By making some changes in your home and surroundings, you can lower the risks of falls by your loved one. Here are some tips on how to make your home more fall-proof, and a checklist of actions you can take to make your home safer.
If Your Loved One Wanders:
While having your loved one wandering around the house might be challenging to you as a caregiver, it’s not necessarily unsafe. However, some wandering can be dangerous, including going into areas of the house such as stairwells, decks, hot tubs, or swimming pools. Also dangerous is your loved one leaving the house, yard, or property alone. To address the challenges of your loved one wandering, you can try some of these tactics.
Remember, if you can’t find the information you need on our website, you can always “Ask NAN” by clicking on this link.
Best,
Rosemary D Laird, MD, MHSA
Founder and Chief Medical Officer
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”
— Benjamin Franklin
