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For Mother's Day this year, the best gift you can get your mother may just be a safer home. While fires and carbon monoxide fumes remain threats in all homes, the leading cause of injury among elders in the United States is falls. Here are five tips to mitigate these risks in your parents’ home just in time for Mother's Day.
1. Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
Smoke Detectors: These days, having just one smoke detector at the top of the stairs is no longer considered adequate or safe. When installing smoke detectors in your parents’ home, you should pick units that have been tested and are recognized by a national authority. Not only should each level of a home have a smoke detector, but each bedroom should have its own dedicated smoke detector both inside and outside the sleeping area.
Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Every home should have carbon monoxide detectors. Carbon monoxide detectors are designed to detect this invisible, odorless gas that can be lethal almost instantly. A carbon monoxide detector should be installed on every level of a home and outside sleeping areas.
Always remember to double-check local smoke and carbon monoxide detector laws for your area. Make sure you or your parents test and replace the batteries in detectors as needed.
2. Upgrade to GFCI Outlets
Years ago, in the 1970s, Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter outlets, or GFCI outlets, were only required around pools. Today, these outlets, which protect us from shocks resulting from electrical devices, are required in most places where you are likely to find moisture, e.g., bathrooms, kitchens, laundry areas and other areas.
Replacing dated traditional outlets with GFCI outlets may not only bring your parents’ home up to code, it could also prevent an electrical shock or even injury. But, remember, just as with detectors, be sure to check local electrical code in your area regarding where these must be installed.
3. Help prevent falls with better lighting
As your parents age, their vision and their balance may not be what it once was. Good lighting, both inside and outside the home, becomes very important. Since falls are the leading cause of injury to seniors, installing good lighting can minimize your parents’ chance of injuring themselves as they maneuver around their home.
4. Grab bars help prevent falls
Grab bars offer convenience and safety to aging parents. They help with transitions into and out of the bathtub. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control research shows that three million seniors go to the emergency room each year due to falls. The CDC has also found that 95% of hip fractures in seniors are caused by falls. Grab bars in the shower help alleviate seniors’ concerns about bathing and reduce their chances of a life-altering accident when they are getting into or out of the bathtub.
5. Get rid of scatter/throw rugs
Scatter or throw rugs are also another common cause of indoor falls. As seniors age, it’s possible their ability to see and/or navigate rugs may decrease. These rugs become a trip hazard and may lead to falls, and even serious injury. Remove scatter rugs from your parents’ home to help prevent falls.
Give your parents the gift of safety this Mother's Day; you may just rest easier knowing that you have mitigated some of the dangers that may have been lurking in their home.
1. Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
Smoke Detectors: These days, having just one smoke detector at the top of the stairs is no longer considered adequate or safe. When installing smoke detectors in your parents’ home, you should pick units that have been tested and are recognized by a national authority. Not only should each level of a home have a smoke detector, but each bedroom should have its own dedicated smoke detector both inside and outside the sleeping area.
Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Every home should have carbon monoxide detectors. Carbon monoxide detectors are designed to detect this invisible, odorless gas that can be lethal almost instantly. A carbon monoxide detector should be installed on every level of a home and outside sleeping areas.
Always remember to double-check local smoke and carbon monoxide detector laws for your area. Make sure you or your parents test and replace the batteries in detectors as needed.
2. Upgrade to GFCI Outlets
Years ago, in the 1970s, Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter outlets, or GFCI outlets, were only required around pools. Today, these outlets, which protect us from shocks resulting from electrical devices, are required in most places where you are likely to find moisture, e.g., bathrooms, kitchens, laundry areas and other areas.
Replacing dated traditional outlets with GFCI outlets may not only bring your parents’ home up to code, it could also prevent an electrical shock or even injury. But, remember, just as with detectors, be sure to check local electrical code in your area regarding where these must be installed.
3. Help prevent falls with better lighting
As your parents age, their vision and their balance may not be what it once was. Good lighting, both inside and outside the home, becomes very important. Since falls are the leading cause of injury to seniors, installing good lighting can minimize your parents’ chance of injuring themselves as they maneuver around their home.
4. Grab bars help prevent falls
Grab bars offer convenience and safety to aging parents. They help with transitions into and out of the bathtub. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control research shows that three million seniors go to the emergency room each year due to falls. The CDC has also found that 95% of hip fractures in seniors are caused by falls. Grab bars in the shower help alleviate seniors’ concerns about bathing and reduce their chances of a life-altering accident when they are getting into or out of the bathtub.
5. Get rid of scatter/throw rugs
Scatter or throw rugs are also another common cause of indoor falls. As seniors age, it’s possible their ability to see and/or navigate rugs may decrease. These rugs become a trip hazard and may lead to falls, and even serious injury. Remove scatter rugs from your parents’ home to help prevent falls.
Give your parents the gift of safety this Mother's Day; you may just rest easier knowing that you have mitigated some of the dangers that may have been lurking in their home.
