How to Alzheimer’s-Proof Your House
Part Two: General and Senior-Safety Tips
Five-Part Complete Guide to Alzheimer’s Proofing Your House
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5
General Safety Items
As I was preparing the Master List with Alzheimer’s in mind, it occurred to me that many commonsense suggestions could be more widely applicable. Some things are just good practices for anyone, regardless of whether or not they are dealing with (someone who has) dementia. Here are a few examples.
For Everyone
Batteries. Store and discard batteries correctly. Exposed battery terminals can pose a fire hazard. Nine-volt (9V) batteries are especially dangerous. To be safe, cover battery terminals with electrical tape being throwing them away.
Break-in Deterrence. Cutting back bushes, foliage, and shrubbery can deprive would-be thieves of hiding places or staging areas. Adequate lighting is an essential component of home security. Obviously, doors and windows need to be kept locked. Alarm systems and other more exotic products are secondary to these foundational elements.
Chemicals, flammable. Keep inflammable chemicals (especially, but not limited to, aerosol paints, gasoline, lighter fluids, turpentine, and so on) far clear of kitchens, utility rooms, and anywhere there are sparking appliances such as furnaces and water heaters. Be mindful that: (a.) sometimes electrical switches can arc or spark and ignite chemicals; and (b.) the vapor or gas of certain chemicals can be just as dangerous – if not more dangerous – than the liquid.
Detectors. Ensure that working carbon-monoxide, natural-gas, and traditional smoke detectors are installed throughout the living space. (Click HERE if you would like to read about ALZHEIMERSPROOF’s detector recommendations.) Bedrooms, garages, hallways, and kitchens are hotspots – sometimes literally. Since the detector is only effective if its batteries are good, you need to schedule periodic battery checks and battery replacements. One person reported to me that replacing batteries is part of her family’s New-Year’s ritual.
Extension cords. Extension cords can present many dangers in the home. Damaged or frayed cords, for instance, pose the risk of electric shock or electrocution. Cords that are incorrectly gauged can pose fire hazards. Short circuits can blow fuses or trip circuit breakers, leaving seniors in the dark. Cords carelessly or haphazardly strewn about may cause seniors to trip and fall. See also Living Room: Electrical cords.
Food stuffs. Food – both canned goods and refrigerated items – should be checked regularly for expiration or spoilage. This becomes important in the case of a person whose eyesight or reasoning abilities are dwindling, but it is a good practice for anybody.
Lighting. Besides decreasing the risk of tripping at night, adequate lighting (especially on the exterior of the home) can also deter robbers.
Prescriptions. Many people keep prescription medications in the bathroom “medicine cabinet.” However, the fluctuating-temperature and high-humidity environment is generally not ideal for the storage of prescriptions or vitamins. Check the prescription for care instructions. Many bottles will indicate where and in what manner they should be stored (e.g., a label might read: “store in a cool, dry place,” or “refrigerate after opening,” etc.).
Telephones. Clearly record the home number as well as any emergency phone numbers and important contacts (e.g., family members or caretakers). For example: Poison control (1-800-222-1222); Alzheimer’s Association (1-800-272-3900); etc.
RETURN TO PART ONE: THE MASTER LIST.
For Seniors
The two keys for seniors are functionality and simplicity.
For seniors, activities of daily living become increasingly challenging. “Functionality,” then, has to do with thinking of changes that can help make day-to-tasks more manageable.
On the flipside, however, homes can become excessively cluttered with assistance apparatuses and “time-saving” devices. The extra clutter can jam up walking paths and present Tripping hazards (on which, see elsewhere). Beyond that, though, collections of stuff – when they get out of control – can exacerbate claustrophobia and become mentally oppressive. For those with some form of dementia, clutter can lead to cognitive overstimulation, which in turn can manifest in negative or anxious behaviors.
Yes, we want useful aids, but we also want organization. So, find a happy medium that works for your family. Here are some suggestions.
Benches. Sometimes little modifications can go a long way. For example, seniors may have difficulty entering their apartments or homes while carrying groceries or shopping bags. However, strategically locating a bench or shelf can provide a resting place for the packages while the senior unlocks the door.
Computers. The computer presents several challenges. Number one, seniors can fall victim to predators via nefarious “spam” email-message tactics. In “phishing” or “spoofing” emails, sending misrepresent themselves as being from reputable companies (such as the senior’s bank) or the government (e.g., the Internal Revenue Service) and seek to scare or otherwise cajole seniors into divulging personal information. Possible measures you can implement include installing Internet-restriction software, personally monitoring your loved one’s screen time, or limiting access to the computer through password protection. Number two, on the other side of things, seniors could accidentally delete documents or information that ought to be saved. Ensure that caretakers (or interested family members, what have you) keep local backups (e.g., on removal media like compact discs, DVDs, external hard drives, flash drives, and so on) or save the files to the “cloud.” Number three, the computer desk itself can present dangers in terms of tangles and tripping hazards. Due to their plethora of accessories, personal-computers (PC) workstations often rely on power strips to accommodate all the electrical cabling needed to make the operation work. Take some time and ensure that the various pieces of equipment – as well as their connecting and power cords – are safely stowed in out-of-the-way places. I have made good use of nylon (“zip”) ties and other cable accessories, to keep the setup tidy and off the floor. If valuable documents or materials are stored on a home computer, protect the files with passwords and back up the files.
Handrails. See Staircases.
Keys. Spare keys can be hidden outside and used as backups in case of emergency or inadvertent lockout. Be forewarned, however, that having a key outdoors may leave you vulnerable to certain home-security risks, if a thief were to discover and exploit the hidden key. So, think about ways to disguise the hiding place so that it will be useful, but will not leave the house as open to break in. See also, Specific Tips for Early-Stage Alzheimer’s: Keys.
Lighting, interior. Check to be sure that all rooms and walkways are sufficiently lit – especially during the nighttime hours.
Light switches. Additionally, try to ensure that light switches are located at the top and the bottom of staircases.
Rails. See Staircases.
Staircases. Stairways can be dangerous. Minimally, handrails should be installed on both sides of the staircase. The rail should extend farther out than the stairs, so that seniors can get a firm grip before venturing up or down. Additionally, the handrail should be professionally installed – and properly anchored to the wall. Some handrails are more decorative than functional, and one doesn’t discover until it’s too late that they are unable to support a person’s full body weight. Moreover, stairs ought to have nonslip surfaces – whether appropriate carpeting or with friction strips.
Telephones. Install flashing light in lieu of ringer for the hearing impaired. Set up an answering machine or voice mailbox to intercept – and screen – calls. See also Answering Machines.
Tripping hazards. Be sure that electrical cords are not stretched across walkways. Seniors can also trip on bunched-up rugs. Ensure that rugs are removed or are at least carefully affixed to the floor. Consider having carpeting put in instead of relying upon rugs.
RETURN TO PART ONE: THE MASTER LIST.
For More Information
See the following articles.
“How Do You Alzheimer’s Proof a Car?”
What do we mean by “Alzheimer’s Proofing?” see HERE.
What’s the Difference between Alzheimer’s Proofing and Baby Proofing or Childproofing? See HERE.
RETURN TO PART ONE: THE MASTER LIST.