Home Safety
A calm, safe home can be helpful for you and your loved one. When a loved one with Alzheimer's disease lives with you, you need to look at home safety through new eyes:
- Look for things that might be unsafe.
- Ask yourself if anything could confuse or upset your loved one.
If your loved one does not live with you, you may feel better if you know their home environment is safer. If you can, drop in to visit regularly. Arrange for friends and family to do the same. They can help keep you aware of safety issues.
And remember, even if your loved one just visits once in a while, you should try to make your home a safe place. Stores that supply baby and infant supplies carry cabinet locks, oven knob covers, and other devices that can help.
Along with local home care and social services in your loved one's area, these tips may help keep your loved one safer in their home.
Kitchen
- Put latches on kitchen cupboards where cleaning supplies are kept.
- Keep items like knives, lighters, and matches locked up and out of reach.
- Put an automatic shut-off switch on the stove to help prevent burns or fires.
Bathroom
- Remove locks from bathroom and bedroom doors.
- Put labels on all medicines and keep them locked up.
- Install grab bars near places like the bathtub or toilet where your loved one may need help getting up or down.
- Consider a shower chair to prevent falls.
- Add latches on bathroom cupboards where cleaning supplies are kept.
Indoors/Outdoors
- If your loved one wanders, putting locks on all windows and outside doors may help. But make a plan for fire safety first.
- Make sure lighting is good both in and around the house.
- Keep the house free from clutter.
- Put away small, slippery rugs and objects that might cause a fall.
- Be sure all dangerous objects are securely locked up and out of the way.