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Home
Safety Checklist for Seniors
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General Safety Precautions
- Develop
an emergency exit plan in case of a fire. This plan should
include a meeting place outside your home to ensure that
everyone has escaped.
- Safely
hide house key outside and consider giving your neighbor
a set for emergencies.
- Inform
neighbors of any safety features in home that may restrict
entry to your home.
- Notify
local police department if your family member is memory
impaired or has dementia.
- Leave
the Emergency Information Front-Door-Bag on the inside of
the front door in the event of a medical emergency.
- This
bag contains health information, emergency contacts and
general information specific to the individual.
- Take
away house keys and car keys when necessary and disarm or
hide controls for automatic garage doors.
- Keep
flashlights in different parts of your home readily available,
and check their batteries regularly.
- Keep
items you use often accessible and easily reachable.
All Areas of the Home
- Be certain that there is adequate lighting
throughout the house and install nightlights.
- Reduce clutter and remove furniture that
is hazardous and may move when leaned on.
- Remove or lock up sharp objects/breakable
items and remove all firearms from home.
- Ensure lamp, extension and telephone cords
are placed out of the flow or traffic area.
- Secure loose and hanging cords and tuck
them out from beneath furniture and rugs or carpeting and
do not run cords across walkways.
- Do not attach cords to the wall and baseboard
with nails or staples.
- Regularly check electrical cords for frays
and cracks.
- Make sure you use the properly rated extension
cord for use with appliances. If an extension cord is needed,
use one having a sufficient amp or wattage rating.
- Avoid polished floors that may be slippery
and remove all non-skid resistant rugs and runners.
- Use only slip-resistant rugs or runners.
- Check rugs and mats periodically to see
if backing needs to be replaced.
Telephone Area
- Emergency
numbers (i.e. Police, Fire Department, local Poison Control,
Family and Neighbor’s contact information) should
be written in large print and posted on or near the telephone
area.
- Find
a phone with large number pads and large speed-dial keys
that can be programmed with important numbers.
- Supply
telephone with direct dialing system for emergency/important
numbers.
- Have
at least one telephone readily accessible in the event of
an accident which leaves you unable to stand.
- Make
sure that there are working smoke detectors on every floor.
- Test
your smoke detector batteries regularly (at least twice
a year).
- Be
certain that no outlets or switches are unusually warm or
hot to touch.
- Ensure
all outlets and switches have cover plates so that no wiring
is exposed.
- Check
that all electrical cords are free of frays. Put childproof
plugs in outlets
- Lock
up cleaning supplies, chemicals and poisons and install
a carbon monoxide detector.
- Put
opaque or reflector tape on glass doors and picture windows
- Put
reflector tape on furniture corners, hallways, bedrooms
to create a path to follow at night.
- Store
all prescription and over the counter medications safely
away and clearly labeled.
- Keep
medication away from extreme humidity and temperature.
- Use
appropriate size and type of light bulb for lamp or fixture.
- Keep
electric fans out of reach. Cover radiators with radiator
guards.
- Supervise
or restrict smoking, use safety ashtrays and keep matches/lighters
out of reach.
- Lock
up valuables, important papers and documents and have system
for safe mail retrieval.
- Regularly
check all plumbing and utilities to ensure they are working
properly.
- Relocate
small stoves and space heaters away from passageways and
flammable materials such as curtains, rugs, furniture, etc.
- Wood
burning stoves should be installed by a qualified person
according to local building codes.
Entrance
- Always keep floors and walkway uncluttered
and doorway accessible.
- Make sure there is a safe entry into the
house or apartment and that secure railing is available.
- Provide viewing of visitors prior to entry
when possible.
- Put automatic door closing devices on
doors to outside and alarms when needed.
- Secure doors to outside with double key
locks, or high or low locks.
Living Area/Family Area
- Fireplace
and Chimney should be clear from accumulations of leaves
or other debris that can clog them.
- Make
sure hallways and passageways between rooms and other heavy
traffic areas are well lit.
- Keep
exits and passageways clear of obstructions or clutter.
- Furnish
chairs/sofas that can safely get up/down.
- Provide
auto raising lift chair to assist getting up when necessary.
- Adapt
seating with additional firm cushions to raise seat.
- Install
key locked windows if necessary.
- Make
sure senior is capable of operating all electrical components
including television, stereo, telephone, lights, etc.
- Secure
loose and hanging telephone and electrical cords and tuck
them under carpeting and furniture and do not run cords
across walkways.
- Remove
rugs and runners that tend to slide.
- Use
rugs or runners with slip-resistant backing.
- Apply
double-faced adhesive carpet tape or rubber matting to the
backs of rugs and runners.
- Repair
and re-glue damaged sheet or ceramic flooring to smoothen
bumps.
- Attach
carpet stair treads securely.
- Remove
glass topped tables or move them away from traffic areas.
Kitchen
- Maintain and regularly check to make sure
appliances are in working order.
- Ascertain ability to manipulate sink faucets
with hot water temperature settings reduced.
- Make sure electrical/appliance cords are
not dangling near water or stove areas.
- Ascertain ability to open/close refrigerator/freezer/stove
door/ and cabinets.
- Ascertain ability to reach dishes, pots,
utensils, and outlets.
- Store sharp objects safely away.
- Keep flammables away from the stove area.
- Wear short or close-fitting sleeves while
cooking.
- Make sure kitchen ventilation systems
or range exhausts are functioning properly.
- Remove small non-food items that could
be swallowed.
- Cover stove burners, remove knobs/shut-off
valves/ and install auto-pilots when needed.
- Unplug or put away kitchen appliances
not in use.
- Disconnect or camouflage garbage disposals.
- Ensure even lighting exist over the stove,
sink and countertop work areas to avoid burns or cuts.
- If a step stool is necessary, choose one
with a handrail that you can hold onto while standing on
the top step. Make sure step stool is stable and in good
condition.
Bedroom
- Locate
bedroom near bathroom or furnish bedside commode.
- Use
night-lights to provide nighttime orientation and visibility.
- Ensure
safe transfer in/out bed and remove bed frame if bed is
too high.
- Rent
or purchase a hospital bed if needed.
- Supply
bumpers or padding to surround bed if needed.
- Install
reverse locks on doors when needed.
- Use
monitor to listen to activity especially at night.
- Remove
carpeting if incontinence becomes a problem.
- Install
room darkening blinds or shades when needed.
- Make
sure that the phone and light is accessible from bed.
- Make
sure that clothes in the closet/dresser are reachable.
- Use
flame-retardant mattresses, pillows, and sheets and plan
procedure for fire evacuation.
- Remove
sources of heat or flame from areas around beds.
- DO
NOT smoke in bed.
- DO
NOT “tuck in” electric blankets or place additional
coverings on top of it. This can cause excessive heat which
can start a fire.
- DO
NOT go to sleep with a heating pad if it is turned on.
Bathroom
- Take special care with wet floors.
Bathtubs
and Shower Areas:
- Install at least 1 (preferably 2) grab
bars in tub and/or shower area.
- Check existing bars for strength and stability,
and repair if necessary.
- Attach grab bars, through the tile, to
structural supports in the wall, or install bars specifically
designed to attach to the sides of the bathtub. Get a qualified
professional to install if necessary.
- Remove any slippery rugs and/or use non-skid
mats in the tub or shower, and on the bathroom floor.
- Apply textured strips on the floors of
the tubs or showers.
- Use a stool with non-skid tips as a seat
while showering or bathing, if you are unsteady on your
feet.
- Install hand held shower nozzle.
- Replace glass shower doors with unbreakable
plastic.
- Install grab bars, safety frame, and/or
raised seat with armrests on or near toilet.
- Remove and/or replace bathroom accessories
and decors that are breakable (i.e. cup and soap holders,
drinking glasses, etc.).
- Lock up razor blades, sharp objects, and
store away electrical devices.
- Make certain that light switches, outlets
and toilet paper are always accessible.
- Install a night light or consider replacing
the existing switch with a “glow switch”.
Water
Temperature:
- Water
temperature should be 120 degrees or lower.
-
Always check water temperature by hand before entering bath
or shower.
-
Taking baths, rather than showers, reduce the risk of scald
from sudden water temperature change.
-
Store all prescription and over the counter medications
safely away and clearly labeled.
-
Dispose of outdated medicines properly.
Stairways
- Provide
adequate lighting and ensure steps are free of clutter.
- Light
switches should be located at both the top and bottom of
the stairs.
- Install
sturdy handrails along both sides of the stairway. If necessary,
install handrails that run continuously from the top to
the bottom of the entire flight of stairs.
- Replace
worn treads or loose carpeting on the stairs.
- Avoid
deep pile carpeting or patterned and dark colored carpeting
that can make it difficult to see the edges of the steps
clearly.
- Repair,
remove or replace worn and torn stair coverings on the steps.
- Paint
outdoor steps with paint that has a rough texture, or use
abrasive strips. Replace outdoor stairs with ramps.
- Paint
edges of outdoor steps white to see them better at night.
- Widen
treads or shorten risers if necessary.
- Put
reflector tape on edge of treads to see edge of steps clearly.
- Install
barriers or gates at stairs if necessary.
Basement/Garage/Workshop/Storage Areas
- Work areas should be well lit.
- Ensure light switches are accessible.
- Be certain correct-size fuses are used
in the fuse box or circuit breaker.
- Use power tool guards to prevent injury
from sharp edges or moving parts.
- Be certain that containers of volatile
liquids are tightly capped.
- Gasoline, kerosene, and other flammable
liquids should be stored out of living areas in properly
labeled non-glass safety containers.
- These should be place away from areas near
heat or flame such as heaters, furnaces, water heaters,
ranges, and other gas appliances.
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