The onset of Alzheimer’s can bring a number of concerns—including practical concerns over safety. While individuals with Alzheimer’s can certainly remain in their home, certain precautions need to be taken to keep the home safe and secure.
How exactly does dementia impact safety? There are several possibilities, just depending on the stage of the dementia:
- Dementia can impact judgment—i.e., forgetting how to use a household appliance.
- It can also impact sense of time and place—i.e., getting lost on one’s own street.
- It can cause behavior that is either fearful or overly confident.
- It can also impair physical ability, including balance.
With that said, there are a few ways to make sure your home is truly a safe space for a person with Alzheimer’s. Here are some suggestions:
- Start by simply evaluating your home. See it through the eyes of a person with dementia. Look for any object that could possibly cause harm. Also make note of places where it is easy to access danger-zones, like the basement, the garage, or outside.
- Lock the entrance to hazardous areas—or disguise them with cloths or half-doors, if you prefer.
- Keep emergency phone numbers in plain view, such as poison control and the fire department.
- Confirm that your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are in good working order.
- Remove the locks from bathrooms and bedrooms, to ensure that the person with Alzheimer’s does not get locked inside.
- The use of door alarms and baby monitors can help with loved ones who are prone to wandering. You can also register with the Take Me Home Program through the Sheriff Department.
- Add night-lights and additional lamps in hallways and areas that may not be as well-lit.
- Remove any guns or weapons from the home, or at the very least disable them.
- Identify and eliminate anything that could be a tripping hazard—low coffee tables, throw rugs, etc.Take every precaution you can to ensure that your home is hazard-free for your loved one!
Contact us today to learn more about Alzheimer’s safety.
