Home Care Safety for the Caregiver
As part of National Safety Month this June, the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) is offering 4 home safety tips for families caring for loved ones living with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia-related illness.
“Every family caregiver’s number one priority is making sure their loved one is safe, but most homes are not designed with the needs of someone living with dementia in mind,” said Jennifer Reeder, LCSW, AFA’s Director of Educational & Social Services. “From smart technology to simply removing clutter, there are steps caregivers can take to make a home safer and more dementia-friendly, improving their loved one’s quality of life as well as their own.”
AFA offers the following 4 tips to caregivers:
Embrace technology. Technological tools can provide additional support to caregivers, especially when they are not home with the individual living with dementia. These include:
- Smart smoke/carbon monoxide alarms which allow caregivers to test the system and be notified if there is an emergency or if a battery needs changing, all through an app. These devices can also be programmed to have a friendly human voice that alerts residents to danger and also its location, instead of a traditional loud beeping sound.
- App-controlled thermostats that allow caregivers to check, program, and adjust the home’s temperature remotely to ensure the home is not overheating or too cold.
- Video doorbells that enable caregivers to receive smart phone notifications when someone is approaching or leaving the home, as well as see in real time. They also provide a real-time view and the ability to talk through the doorbell to the person at the door.
- Automatic fire extinguishers which magnetically attach to the inside of the hood of a stove and dispense baking soda if a cooking fire occurs.
Remove clutter and tripping hazards. Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death for adults aged 65 and older, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dementia can negatively impact a person’s balance and gait, making them even more susceptible to falling. Take steps to eliminate potential tripping hazards, such as clutter, loose wires, and throw rugs. Use bathroom rugs that have rubberized backing to reduce slipping, and if the person is experiencing mobility problems, only put the rugs out during bath time.
Small adaptations can make a big difference. Relatively inexpensive adaptations that greatly improve safety for someone living with dementia: covering sharp edges of furniture and countertops with rubber corner protectors, placing floor-level night lights in hallways or bathrooms that automatically illuminate in the dark, and utilizing grab bars in showers and toilet paper holders to aid with transferring.
Being mindful of color choices, contrast, and lighting. Dementia can impair eyesight and negatively affect a person’s ability to judge distance and space. Color contrast is important, as it supports vision, depth perception and spatial orientation. Using different colors in such things as contrasting furniture and floor colors enhances the individual’s ability to navigate and interact with their environment safely. Use glare-free lighting whenever possible, as glare-producing lights could affect the vision for someone with dementia.
AFA created a model dementia-friendly home, called “The Apartment,” to showcase these and other steps families can take to make a home safer and more dementia-friendly. Learn more at www.alzfdn.org/theapartment or call AFA’s Helpline at 866-232-8484 to speak with a licensed social worker.
About Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA)
The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide support, services and education to individuals, families and caregivers affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias nationwide and to fund research for better treatment and a cure. Its services include a National Toll-Free Helpline (866-232-8484) staffed by licensed social workers, the National Memory Screening Program, educational conferences and materials, and “AFA Partners in Care” dementia care training for healthcare professionals. For more information about AFA, call 866-232-8484, visit www.alzfdn.org, follow us on Twitter or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.