Welcome to Alicia’s monthly advice column where she’ll provide tips on caring for a loved one with dementia. Alicia Seaver is a certified memory impairment specialist and Vice President of Memory Care Operations at Bridges® by EPOCH. This month’s topic is home safety.
Accidents happen, and as we get older, most of us will need to make safety modifications throughout our homes to prevent injury. But for seniors living with dementia, home safety modifications are especially important. Dementia not only leads to changes in physical abilities, it also alters a person’s senses and their perception of the world, which can cause spaces and objects that were once understood to become frightening or confusing.
Assess
Take a walk through the home in your loved one’s shoes. Evaluate the different rooms from your loved one’s point of view, thinking about their behaviors, abilities and health needs. Note potential hazards or changes that need to be made and write them down as you go — using a home safety checklist may be helpful. Remember to start small when you begin making changes. Your loved one will need more time to adjust and adapt than you would, so avoid re-arranging an entire room all in one day.
While assessing the safety of your home may seem like quite an undertaking, taking the process one step at a time, and working with a certified healthcare professional if needed, will help you create a home that is safe and supportive of your loved one’s needs. Contact your local area agency on aging or the Alzheimer’s Association for guidance and recommendations on local senior specialists who can offer support.
Modify
While the home modifications you will need to make will depend somewhat on your loved one’s needs and the state of the space they reside in, the following are good common-sense measures to start with:
Install secure locks on outside doors and windows. Consider purchasing an alarm system that notifies you when a door or window is opened.
Rely on technology as needed: Motion-sensor alarms and motion-activated video monitors can help you keep track of your loved one’s whereabouts. There are even seat cushions, floor mats and bed pads wired to alert you when your loved one gets up or moves to a different room.
Avoid clutter around the house, as it can be overwhelming, confusing and even hazardous to people with dementia. Make sure floors and walkways are always kept clutter-free and use non-skid mats on slippery surfaces. Remove scatter rugs and throw rugs.
Remove dangerous appliances, cleaning supplies and other hazardous household items from easily accessible areas. Store these items in a secure space, using childproof locks, doorknob covers and outlet covers as needed.
Keep outdoor pathways and steps lit — you might even consider marking the edges of steps in brightly colored or glow-in-the-dark tape. Keep fence secure and locked.
Lock your grill when it’s not in use. If you have a pool or hot-tub in your backyard, invest in a locking cover as well as an alarm.
Install grab bars in the shower that contrast with the color of the wall. Cover electrical outlets and remove small electrical appliances from the bathroom. Store medications in a locked cabinet.
Avoid wall mirrors, especially large ones, and mark glass doors with stickers or bright tape to make them more perceptible to your loved one.
Use strong, low-glare lighting throughout the house, and install sensor-activated night-lights in every room and hallway.
Reflect and Re-evaluate
Making your home safe for a person with dementia is a multi-faceted process, but even small changes can make a big difference in their behaviors and mood. After you make appropriate modifications, be sure to pay attention to how your loved one responds — this will help you to further tailor the space to their needs. You should also re-evaluate your home periodically, especially as your loved one’s behaviors and abilities change over time.
While not everything in your home needs to change following your loved one’s diagnosis, it’s important to make sure you take the appropriate measures to not only keep them safe and meet their needs, but to keep them calm and comfortable as well. If you have any questions regarding how you can make your home a safer place for your memory-impaired loved one, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help in any way I can.
