Whether you’re welcoming your parents into your home or taking steps to facilitate independent living at their property, safety is key. This guide outlines simple steps you can take to create a safe haven for aging relatives, including using smart tech systems. 

Tackle slip and trip hazards

Falls are among the most common types of accidents among older people. The first thing to do is to identify and tackle slip and trip hazards, such as broken or damaged flooring, obstructions in corridors, stairwells, and doorways, poor lighting, and uneven flooring. You may also want to add ramps if you have hidden steps or a lot of stairs leading to the front door or backyard. 

If scaling the stairs has become more challenging and dangerous for your family members, there are solutions. Adding extra rails, moving beds to downstairs rooms, and installing a stair lift could help. It’s a good idea to carry out a risk assessment before your relatives move in. Go around your house armed with a notepad and jot down any issues or jobs that need doing or finishing. 

Use alert systems

There’s nothing more unsettling than worrying about your parents, whether they live under your roof or in their own home. Alert systems provide peace of mind for you and them. You can use devices like Life Assure medical alert systems for seniors free to enhance safety and ensure a speedy response if your mom or dad falls or they need help. Using this kind of device is a great idea if your relatives want to remain in their own house or they live with you, but you spend long periods out of the house due to work or other commitments. 

Make living areas more accessible

The layout of your home and the way you arrange furniture can have a big impact on accessibility and the level of risk. Open layouts with wide expanses of space and clear entry and exit points are ideal for seniors with limited mobility and individuals who use wheelchairs or walking frames to get around. Clutter can elevate the risk of falls, and it’s also harder to navigate rooms with lots of furniture and narrow passages. Changing the position of your furniture can help, but you could also consider removing larger pieces or adjusting the layout. If you have small reception rooms and you’re willing to take on a project, you could explore the possibility of knocking walls down to create larger, more open living areas.

Many of us will reach a point in our lives when we need to think about caring for older family members. If your parents are moving in with you, or they’re eager to stay in their own home, it’s essential to think about safety. Simple steps, like identifying and tackling slip, trip, and fall hazards, using alert systems and devices, and making living areas more accessible, can make a big difference.