Today, many seniors prefer aging in place to going to an assisted-living facility for long-term care — all thanks to caregivers who help them remain safe and independent at home. However, with aging in place comes the risk of home accidents, which often compromise the safety and well-being of seniors. Fortunately, most home accidents can be prevented by either renovating the home to suit the needs of aging adults or employing technology that alerts caregivers about the nearing mishaps. 

If you or your loved one is aging in place, here are a few common home accidents you should know and how to prevent them:

Falls

Falls are the primary reason for injuries — both fatal and nonfatal — among US adults aged 65 and above. According to NCBI, falls comprise 75% of all the injuries among the elderly living at home in the US. These incidents usually occur because of uneven floors and surfaces, misplaced objects, unstable furniture, and ill-lighted spaces. Bed falls are another common incident among seniors that pose a serious threat to their safety. 

The best course of action to prevent falls among the elderly is to install handrails and grab bars in areas where seniors need support. These areas include stairs, bathrooms, toilets, and others. To prevent bed falls, you can install a wireless bed alarm for the elderly. Plus, the floor should be free of things that may cause the elderly to fall or trip over. 

Fire and burns

Fire and burns among seniors are generally a result of malfunctioned or unregulated heat-generated devices. The risk is higher among seniors with some form of physical impairment. 

You can avoid the incidents involving scalding by installing fire alarm systems throughout the building and anti-scalding systems in bathrooms, sinks, showers, etc. Also, invest in heat-generating devices that are safe to use for seniors. 

Choking and other food-related incidents

Food safety is a pressing concern for seniors, especially those who have allergies to certain types of foods, have a vision impairment, and those who can’t read product labels properly. Besides, the risk of choking among the elderly is real. However, choking can be prevented by hiring a caregiver to monitor every meal that the care recipient eats throughout the day.

To prevent food-related incidents, big, readable labels that mention the product’s “best before” date should be placed on food containers. Vegetables, fruits, and other perishable items should be placed in the refrigerator at a temperature of below 40 degrees to extend their shelf life. Also, if you prepare meals for your loved one, keep the size of ingredients appropriate so that they don’t choke. 

Final note

You can also keep home accidents among the elderly at bay by renovating the home to suit their new mobility needs and making the home easily accessible for them.

If you are looking for safety products for the elderly, including handrails, wireless bed alarms for homes, and others, get in touch with us or feel free to explore our store.