According to the Centers for Disease Control, 33 percent of Americans, age 65 or older, have at least one serious fall each year. About 60 percent of those falls occur at home during normal daily activities. While downsizing to a smaller, one-level apartment may be the perfect solution for seniors who still want to live on their own, there are still many things to consider for their safety.
Avoid apartments with stairs
This may seem obvious, but consider all the steps they will need to take to get from the parking lot to their apartment. The fewer stairs there are to climb, the better. Ideally, for senior citizens, the apartment should be one flat level. If the apartment is in a high rise building, make sure there is convenient access to the elevator.
Keep things simple and clutter-free
Whether grandma is just moving in, or she has lived in an apartment all her life, it’s time to simplify. Wires, rugs, and even pets can cause anyone to trip. But those things can be especially detrimental to older people who are susceptible to falls. Find an apartment with carpet so there is no need for extra rugs. Clear the walkways and, if your senior relative is willing, streamline the knickknacks. Aunt Mildred’s large snow globe collection was fun to look at when we were kids, but it may not be very Zen (or safe) to display a full bookcase of them in her new senior-safe apartment.
Secure the furniture
Speaking of bookcases, make sure shelves are firmly attached to the wall (especially if Aunt Mildred is not willing to pack up her snow globes!) Furniture should not be too bulky or have sharp corners. Borrow some tips from Feng Shui design and choose round or oval tables. They supposedly allow for better flow of energy, but from a practical stand point they are just safer.
Prevent falls in Kitchens and bathrooms
Some apartments are equipped with bathrooms specifically designed for seniors or those with special needs. If your apartment does not have one of these bathrooms, you can always convert it. Showers with sliding glass doors work well for elderly people that have trouble climbing in and out of a tub. Get a shower bench, install some slip grips on the shower floor, and change the shower head to a hand held device.
Kitchens are the most dangerous place in the home for everyone. However, there are a few things you can do to prevent accidents. Make sure all heavy objects are stored in lower cabinets. Get a good, non-slip foot stool for reaching upper shelves. And make sure the kitchen rug has a rubber grip backing so it does not slide around. Also, you may need to help organize your senior relative on a regular basis with pill cases, a large print calendar on the fridge, and notes in easy-to-see places; “Ma, don’t forget to turn the stove off. Love you!” Make sure your relative knows where the fire extinguisher is and how to use it.
Use night lights and flash lights
Think about your senior relative getting up in the middle of night to use the bathroom. Is the pathway well lit? Night lights are pretty much a necessity for senior safe apartments. You can get light detector night lights that automatically turn on when there is no light. Have flashlights handy in case the lights go out. Candles are generally a bad idea for senior relatives, but you can get an electric candle warmer if they enjoy the fragrance of a scented candle.
Post emergency information behind the front door
It’s very important to list your relative’s emergency information somewhere people can see it. Post more than one emergency contact’s phone number, her doctor information, and allergies. Also, list all the medicine she is currently taking along with insurance info. Use a plastic sleeve show that these documents are visible and so that the EMS drivers can easily slide the papers out to take with them to the hospital. This information could save your relative’s life as they may be unable to speak during distress.
AUTHOR INFO
April Lentini has experience with grandparents. She helped care for one of her own and also worked as an activity director in a senior apartment home. April writes for
