Elderly Parent Living Alone? 2 Tips To Keep Them Safe
If you have an elderly parent that lives alone, you can keep them in their home if you take steps to keep them safe. There are many ways you can do this, two of which are listed below. Your parent can then enjoy their independence and you won't have to worry as much.
Install a Stair Lift
If your parent has stairs inside their home that they have to walk up every day, a stair lift will be beneficial for them. This is a seating device that attaches to the stair rail. It electronically transports your parent from the bottom to the top or from the top to the bottom of the stairs. This is safe as the seat moves slowly while it is moving up or down.
The seat is comfortable and sturdy, so you won't have to worry about your parent falling out. It will be low enough to the ground to make it easy for your parent to sit down and stand up.
Stair lifts have batteries so your parent can get up and down the stairs even if the power goes out in their home. The batteries are easy to recharge so you won't have to worry about the stair lift losing power.
Make Bathroom Safe
Make sure the bathroom is safe for your parent as this is one room that is easy to fall in. To help with this, install a few grab bars in the bathroom, such as one next to the toilet and one in the shower. Check the thermostat on their water heater and set it to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or lower so they do not burn themselves on the water.
Put rubber mats in the bottom of the bathtub so your parent will not slip when getting in and out. If you have the money to remodel their home, remove the bathtub and instead install a walk-in bathtub. There are bathing chairs that are made to be used in a bathtub also. A raised toilet is much easier to sit down and get off of.
Put a rug on the floor if the bathroom is slippery. Purchase rugs that are made for a bathroom. Put a nightlight in their bathroom to help them see if they need to go to the bathroom at night.
There are many more things you can do in your parent's home. For example, declutter to prevent falls, make the kitchen safer, add more lighting so they can see well, and much more.
