Making Your Home Safe for Aging: Expert Advice for Seniors and Caregivers

Home safety is important for all of us, but as we grow older, we should take special care to ensure that we can continue living in our homes for as long as possible. But did you know that eighty-five percent (85%) of older adults haven’t done anything yet to prepare their homes to accommodate their changing needs as they age? Here are some areas to evaluate, and tips to incorporate, when determining whether our homes are safe:

• Rugs:
  To eliminate tripping or slipping hazards, replace or remove any rugs with edges that have curled up. Add non-skid backings to rugs and try to choose rugs with contrasting colors—they’re easier to see. If you have floors that tend to be slippery, consider applying a non-slip wax coating.
• Lights:
  Did you know that a typical 85-year-old needs three times more light than a teen? Make sure all your lighting fixtures use the highest wattage bulbs that are safely allowed, and consider adding additional light to darker places, like hallways, stairways, and closets. There are convenient, battery-operated, motion-sensor lights that you can easily install to help with this.
• Bathroom:
  Having grab bars around the shower, tub, and toilet, and using rubber bathmats, can go a long way in preventing falls. It can also be helpful to have a raised or high-profile toilet, or even a shower seat if necessary.
• High-Traffic Areas: 
  Keep your floor space free from clutter, especially in high-traffic areas, like hallways, bedrooms, and living rooms. Clutter can include children’s toys, pet belongings, electrical cords, newspapers, boxes, unnecessary furniture, etc.
• Stairs:
  Whether you have indoor or outdoor stairs, you should have handrails that run the full length of the stairs—on both sides, if possible.
• Doors and Windows:
   Make sure the locks on your windows and exterior doors are intact and secure. Your doors and windows should also be easy to open in case of a fire. Consider replacing unwieldy door knobs with lever handles and removing any unnecessary interior door locks.

Other areas of safety include making sure that your smoke and/or carbon monoxide detectors are in good working condition. Have a fire escape plan in place, and keep a list of emergency numbers by each phone.

Also keep in mind your medications. If you live with a spouse or someone else who takes medication, consider keeping your medications in separate cabinets or storage containers in order to prevent an accidental mix up. For the same reason, be sure to keep your medications in their original bottles.

Safety in your home isn’t just about preventing slips and falls.

You also want to protect yourself and your loved ones from those who would take advantage of you. Scammers can now call you and make the caller ID on your phone appear as if it is from a legitimate location, such as your insurance company or credit card company. This is known as “phishing,” and some scammers are very good at it. Never give your personal information, such as your bank and credit card information, social security number, or passwords, to anyone you don’t know, either over the phone, by text or email, or in person. If you’re not sure whether the person on the phone is really calling from your credit card (or other) company, hang up and call the company directly and ask. If it was a legitimate call, they will have a record of it. Furthermore, don’t be pressured in to making immediate purchases or donations.

Finally, as you make safe improvements to your home, consider protecting and preserving your home with proper estate planning. The right estate plan can help ensure that your wishes are met and help keep your home with you and your loved ones so you can continue living there for many years to come. A certified elder law attorney can help guide you through this important process.

There’s no way to eliminate every possible risk, but with proper planning and care, you can make your home as safe as it can be for you and your loved ones.