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Whereas residence changes are essential for any senior as they age, they’re particularly vital for seniors with dementia. As neurodegenerative illnesses (like Alzheimer’s and associated dementias) progress, seniors might not have the ability to acknowledge frequent security hazards and will begin to use commonplace gadgets in harmful methods. However with some particular residence modifications, you may make the care surroundings secure for a senior with dementia.
How Dementia Impacts Senior Security
Dementia bodily modifications the mind and causes numerous completely different behavioral and cognitive modifications in seniors. Listed below are a number of the modifications that may have an effect on a senior’s security.
- Judgement: Seniors might overlook how you can use family home equipment. For instance, they may overlook that the stovetop will get scorching, and so they might contact it and burn themselves.
- Sense of time and place: Seniors with dementia might wander and get misplaced — even in their very own neighborhood.
- Stability: Dementia may cause modifications in stability because the illness progresses. Seniors may additionally overlook the correct strategy to stroll, inflicting them to shuffle. This could really improve the danger of falling.
- Depth notion: A senior’s depth notion can change because of dementia. This could trigger them to overlook a step, not see one thing on the ground, and so on.
- Sensitivity to temperature: A senior with dementia is probably not as conscious of modifications in temperature, like meals that’s too scorching.
As dementia progresses, look ahead to these signs in your senior beloved one. With some artistic modifications to the house, you possibly can guarantee they keep secure!
Dwelling Security Ideas for Dementia
Seniors with Alzheimer’s or dementia can safely stay at residence. Listed below are some residence security suggestions to make sure that they will age in place.
Door and Window Locks
Seniors with dementia are vulnerable to wandering and getting misplaced, which might pose severe security considerations. Seniors may get stranded outside in blistering warmth or frigid chilly. They might additionally turn into the sufferer of a criminal offense. Nevertheless, you possibly can forestall wandering at residence by putting in locks on home windows and doorways.
We suggest putting in a deadbolt above or beneath eye stage on all exterior doorways. Maintain these doorways locked always whereas the senior is at residence. Whereas these exterior locks are vital, chances are you’ll need to really take away inside door locks. Seniors with dementia may by chance lock themselves in a room and never know how you can get out. You’ll need to hold a key exterior the house in case the senior by chance locks you out of the home.
In terms of home windows, be sure all exterior home windows have working locks and that they’re within the locked place. You may additionally need to take into account putting in alarms on home windows and doorways that allow you to know when they’re opened.
RELATED CONTENT: Sensible Methods to Maintain Your Senior Protected from Wandering
Kitchen Home equipment
As a result of seniors might overlook how you can use home equipment, chances are you’ll want to interchange or add security options to current home equipment. For instance, get a range with an computerized shut-off characteristic. You may as well add security knob covers to stop seniors with dementia from utilizing the range. If the kitchen is attached to gasoline, it is best to flip off the gasoline when the range isn’t in use.
You possibly can put a security lock on the fridge as properly to maintain seniors from by chance opening the fridge and leaving the door open. This might additionally assist if there are meals within the fridge {that a} senior can’t have, like meals they’re allergic to or that a physician has beneficial that your beloved avoids.
You may additionally need to disconnect the rubbish disposal as a result of a senior with dementia may by chance damage themselves or destroy objects within the kitchen sink.
Vibrant Lighting
Create a fair stage of shiny lighting all through the house to cut back shadows and enhance distinction. This might help seniors with dementia higher distinguish completely different gadgets and keep away from tripping. Improved lighting might help them safely navigate across the residence in addition to see and react to facial expressions. Moreover, elevated visibility might help with behavioral modifications that may be triggered by modifications in lighting.
Contemplate opening blinds to permit for daylight through the day. Set up overhead lighting or plug in lamps in areas which are dim. Contemplate putting nightlights in hallways and loos to assist seniors who go to the toilet at night time. Nightlights can be efficient on stairs, which are sometimes locations with poor lighting and distinction.
RELATED CONTENT: Tricks to Forestall Falls in Dementia Sufferers
Heavy Furnishings
Seniors might lean on heavy items of furnishings to stabilize themselves as they transfer concerning the residence. Safe heavy furnishings within the residence to stop them from tipping over onto a senior or shifting as a senior holds onto it. Under are some examples of heavy furnishings items to think about:
- Sofa and armchairs
- Bookshelves
- Cupboards
- Giant TVs
- Tables
Potential Weapons & Hazards
A senior with dementia may use many gadgets within the residence in methods which are harmful. For instance, a senior would possibly attempt to drink gasoline, by chance lower themselves on a pair of scissors, or take an excessive amount of medicine. Seniors might also use gadgets across the residence as potential weapons in the event that they really feel threatened, indignant, or scared. For instance, a senior would possibly choose up a creative sculpture and throw it at you in a match of anger.
To assist forestall damage, attempt to anticipate issues that may very well be used as weapons or turn into hazards. Pay shut consideration to the kitchen and laundry room. Safe doubtlessly harmful gadgets by putting security locks or eradicating the merchandise from the care surroundings altogether. This might help hold you and the senior secure.
Temperature
As a result of seniors with dementia is probably not as delicate to cold and hot, you possibly can assist keep temperatures inside the residence. Contemplate putting in a wise thermostat which you can handle in your telephone to maintain the home programmed to an acceptable stage. Or place a security field over your current unit.
Set the thermostat in your scorching water heater to beneath 120°F to assist forestall a senior from getting burned by scorching water when showering or washing their fingers. You may additionally need to verify their meals earlier than they eat it in case it’s too scorching and burns their tongue. Coloration-changing silverware is an effective way to verify the temperature of meals.
Don’t use any heating gadgets within the residence, like electrical blankets, heating pads, or area heaters. A senior may stay involved with them for too lengthy, leading to a burn.
RELATED CONTENT: Widespread Dementia Behaviors and Caregiver Methods
Distinction
To assist enhance depth notion, you possibly can add distinction to completely different areas within the residence. This might help a senior with dementia distinguish shapes, keep away from sure areas, or have extra warning. For instance, including coloured gentle switches all through the house might help a senior discover the switches extra simply. Or portray the kitchen cupboards a distinct coloration from the wall might help a senior see them extra clearly and keep away from bumping into them on accident.
We suggest including distinction tape round hazards within the residence that can’t be eliminated, like stairs or the place there may be an uneven transition of flooring. Pink distinction tape is nice round ground vents, radiators, or different heating gadgets within the dwelling surroundings as a result of it indicators that one thing is scorching or harmful.
Dwelling Security Evaluation
Caring Senior Service presents a FREE residence security evaluation to seniors within the areas we serve. This evaluation consists of particular suggestions for seniors with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Our caregivers may present further help and monitoring to maintain a senior with dementia secure at residence. Attain out to your native Caring group to study extra.