Alzheimer’s disease and any other Dementia-related
illnesscan cause memory loss, confusion and disorientation. The symptoms worsen
as the disease progresses, so it’s crucial for people living with Dementia to
live in familiar, hazard-free environments. Has someone close to you recently
been diagnosed with Dementia? You’ll want to ensure that their home is a safe place
to avoid accidental falls or injuries upon themselves or others.
Many seniors prefer to age in place and
receive healthcare at home nowadays, so it’sessential to ensure that your loved
one’s home is a secure place to live. Dementia is a complex disease, and you
never know when a person living with Dementia might experience confusing or
disorienting symptoms. Make your loved one’s home
comfortable and easy to navigate with our home safety checklist. By
implementing the following home safety guidelines into your family member's
house, you'll help alleviate any uneasy and stressful feelings they may
experience.
Know How Dementia Affects Safety
The first step to ensuring that your loved
one's home is safe is understanding how the disease could make it dangerous.
Dementia causes significant damage to the brain that changes people’s cognitive
behaviours, creating potential hazardous environments. Some of these changes
include:
• Loss
of a sense of time and place — getting lost on their street.
• Judgment
— Forgetting how to use household electronics or appliances.
• Sense
— Experiencing changes in vision, hearing, or depth perception.
• Behavioural
changes — Becoming confused, frightened, or agitated.
As you walk around the house to assess
safety concerns, keep these symptoms in mind. You’ll want to try and see the
home from your loved one’s point-of-view.
Get Rid of Kitchen Hazards
Without the right safety precautions, the
kitchen can become a hazardous hotspot. Install childproof locks on drawers or
cupboards containing sharp objects, such as knives. Keep prescription and
non-prescription medications in a locked cabinet. You'll want to install automatic
shut-off switches on the stove and remove any artificial fruit or magnets from
the kitchen entirely.
Reduce the Risk of Falls
If there aren't already handrails
throughout the house, install them in all staircases, bathrooms, and your loved
one's bedroom. Doing so will help to prevent any falls and accidents.
Use Motion Sensor Technology
Utilizing the power of motion detectors
will put your mind at ease because you’ll always know where your loved one is
in the house. Installing motion sensor detectors throughout the home (by the
bedside, chairs, and in near doorways) will immediately alert you or a
caregiver when your friend or family member gets up to move.
At-Home Healthcare
The best way to improve your loved one’s
safety is with at-home healthcare. Find a home healthcare service that provides
expert Dementia Care
in Toronto with professional caregivers. With a
caregiver who specializes in working with people living with Dementia, you'll
never have to worry about your loved one again. They'll be in the watchful and
compassionate eyes of a Dementia care expert. Your family member will enjoy the
familiarity and comfort of home, and you can rest easy knowing that they’re
safe and sound.
Life changes when someone you love develops Dementia, but it doesn’t mean it has to stop. Follow our home safety instructionsand speak with your friend or family member’s doctor about further steps to take to ensure your loved one has the freedom to enjoy a secure and relaxing home.
