Home care is a practical option for older adults who need assistance in their daily routine, yet want to remain independent in their own homes.
A caregiver’s biggest priority is keeping an older adult safe in the home, and this can become challenging when he or she is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
What is Alzheimer’s Disease?
The Alzheimer’s Association describes Alzheimer’s as the most common form of dementia, and accounts for 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases. It’s a progressive disease that begins with memory loss, and eventually prevents the individual from carrying on a conversation or responding to his or her environment.
Over time, Alzheimer’s disease will cause an older adult’s memory to worsen, and change their sense of smell, julietta online casino hearing, sight, touch and taste. As a result, triggers of unsafe situations that once alerted them to danger go unrecognized.
For example, an individual with Alzheimer’s may forget to turn off the stove, the oven or the water. They may not remember how to use a phone in an emergency. They may get lost on their street, be unable to find things in their own home, or have trouble with balance.
Stay Safe in the Home
If you are caring for an older adult with Alzheimer’s, here are a few things you can do to keep them safe in the home:
- Ensure preventative safety measures. Be sure your older adult’s home is equipped with properly working smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarms, and fire extinguishers. Restrict access to cars, pools and staircases. Turn off gas fireplaces and garbage disposals.
- Remove tripping hazards. Clutter-free your older adult’s home by removing unnecessary furniture, small throw rugs and coffee tables. Be aware of electrical cords, extension cords and floor lamps that could be dangerous.
- Reduce falls. Tightly install additional handrails on the staircases, and add shower chairs and grab bars to the bathrooms to ensure additional support and balance.
- Take away or lock up weapons. This includes guns, knives, tools, or anything else that could be used as a weapon.
- Lock away dangerous chemicals and medicines. Cleaning supplies, paint, gasoline and prescription/non-prescription medicines should be taken out of the home or securely locked away.
- Accessible call for help. Keep all emergency phone numbers, including fire, police, family members and neighbors, near every phone. Also consider having a medical alert system installed that would dispatch an operator in the event of an emergency.
- A spare set of keys. Hidden outside the house or with a few selected family members in case the older adult accidentally locks you out.
Caring for an older adult with Alzheimer’s in the home requires careful attention, thorough preparation, and ongoing monitoring. But by taking these extra precautions, your older adult may continue to live their life as they want – safely and independently in their own home.
If you need help caring for an older adult with Alzheimer’s in the home, contact Advanced Home Health Solutions. We can help.
Advanced Home Health Solutions provides home care and personal care services to seniors in and around Columbus, Ohio. Owner Bonnie Cramer is a Certified Dementia Practitioner through the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners. We pride ourselves in being an extension of your family, providing care, comfort and support when you need it, where you need it. To learn more about our services, send us an email, visit our website or contact us at 614-340-9541.
