How to Make a Home Safe for Someone With Alzheimer's
- 1). Look at every room in the house--carefully. What may seem perfectly innocent to you might prove to be a safety hazard to someone suffering from Alzheimer's. Can toes or canes get caught on throw rugs? Does a person have to navigate through a lot of clutter or furniture to get from one area of a room to another? Are lamp or other electrical cords tucked against baseboards or placed under carpets to reduce trip hazards? Check every room and identify any object that may cause trips or falls and either rearrange the room or remove the item entirely.
- 2). Limit access to areas of the home environment that may prove dangerous to someone who is no longer able to show good judgment between safe and unsafe. For example, lock doors to the basement, which may cause a fall. Garages should be secured so that your loved one won't access the tools. Put car keys in a safe, secured place so that your loved one can't start the car. Secure all gasoline, cleaning equipment and power tools in a safe place.
- 3). Create adequate lighting throughout the home to reduce chances of falls. Individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's often experience vision difficulties, so make sure that bedrooms, hallways and bathrooms are well lit. Provide nightlights to help with nighttime navigation from the bedroom to the bathroom.
- 4). Provide a safe kitchen environment. Store and secure all electrical appliances in a locked cupboard. Disengage the garbage disposal. Remove knobs from gas ranges and stoves or unplug an electric stove when not in use. Consider hidden shut-off valves for stoves, which can be installed by a professional.
- 5). Ensure safety in the bathroom. Place non-skid rugs or mats on the floor, especially around the bathtub or shower area and in front of the toilet. Install grab bars, making sure to anchor such bars or railings to studs in the wall to ensure they will hold if grabbed onto. You can experiment with your own body weight to make sure such bars or rails are indeed sturdy.
