GENERAL HOME SAFETY TIPS

General home safety among family members, especially with the elderly has always been a priority. Keeping our elderly at home, sound and safe will always give us peace of mind. We, at Home Care Perks, understand how important for each family member living with a senior to live safely in the comfort of their own homes, regardless of physical and cognitive limitations.  To be able to keep you at peace and confident, we have gathered several guidelines and tips on general home safety, including specific safety recommendations for bathroom safety, kitchen safety, electrical safety, and drug safety.

 For general home safety, you may use the following tips to help your loved one stay safe:

• Consider a medical alert or a buddy system.
• Keep fire extinguisher and smoke detector on every floor.
• Use extreme caution when smoking. Never smoke when alone or in bed.
• Always get up slowly after sitting or lying down. Take your time, and make sure you have your balance.
• Wear proper fitting shoes with low heels.
• Use a correctly measured walking aid.
• Remove or tack down all scatter rugs.
• Remove electrical or telephone cords from traffic areas.
• Avoid using slippery wax on floors.
• Wipe up spills promptly.
• Avoid standing on ladders or chairs.
• Have sturdy rails for all stairs inside and outside the house, or if necessary, purchase a stairlift.
• Use only non-glare 100 watt or greater incandescent bulbs (or the fluorescent equivalents).
• Make sure that all stair cases have good lighting with switches at top and bottom.
• Staircase steps should have a non-slip surface.

For Bathroom Safety:

• Leave a light on in your bathroom at right.
• Use recommended bath aids, securely installed on the walls of the bath/shower stall and on the sides of the toilet.
• Skid-proof the tub and make sure the bath mat has a non-slip bottom.
• To avoid scalds, turn water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or below.
• Mark cold and hot faucets clearly.
• Use door locks that can be opened from both sides.
• If possible, bathe only when help is available.

For Kitchen Safety:

• Keep floors clean and uncluttered.
• Illuminate work areas.
• Mark “ON” and “OFF” positions on appliances clearly and with bright colors.
• Store sharp knives in a rack.
• Use a kettle with an automatic shut off.
• Store heavier objects at waist level.
• Store hazardous items separate from food.
• Avoid wearing long, loose clothing when cooking over the stove.
• Make sure food is rotated regularly. Check expiration dates.

For Electrical Safety:

• Cover electrical outlets to prevent children from inserting objects.
• Check electrical cords for wear. Do not use cords that are frayed or have exposed wires. Be sure to check the junction between the cord and the plug.
• Ground all three-pronged plug adapters.
• Check heating pads for cracks prior to use. Do not use if present.
• Place the number of your Electric Company on or at every telephone. Call if there is a power outage.

For Drug Safety:

• Review your medicines frequently with your doctor or pharmacist and when you take new medication.
• Make sure medicines are clearly labeled.
• Read medicine labels in good light to ensure you have the right medicine and always take the correct dose.
• Dispose of any old or used medicines.
• Never borrow prescription drugs from others.
• Check with your doctor or pharmacist before you mix alcohol and your drugs.
• Have medication dispensed in a bubble pack or convenient dispenser.
• Check with your doctor or pharmacist before mixing non-prescription drugs and prescription drugs.
• Store all medications out of reach of children.
• Secure all caps on medication bottles.
• Store syringes behind a closed door and do not talk about the fact that you have syringes in your home.
• Never expose medications to sunlight. (This precaution also applies to injectable medications, such as insulin)