Here's a Few Home Safety Tips for Seniors

The older we get, the more time we spend at home, and the more vulnerable we become to home accidents. Here’s a guide to improving the safety of your home.

The older we get, the more time we spend at home, and the more vulnerable we become to home accidents. Fortunately, most home accidents can be prevented by a little forward planning, which means having a good look around your home for ‘accidents waiting to happen’. Here’s a basic room-by-room guide to some of the simple things you can do to make your home safer: 

KITCHEN 

 Clear up any wet or dry spills right away – you can slip on rice or flour as easily as water. Hot surfaces and naked flames are found in kitchens. Keep a dry powder fire extinguisher handy and learn how to use it before you need to. If you deep-fry, learn how to contain a fire with a damp towel or fire blanket. If there’s a microwave fire, keep the microwave door closed and unplug it. Pans on the stove should have their handles turned inwards so you don’t catch them, and sharp knives should be stored safely when not in use. Always keep flammable objects away from hot surfaces and use good quality oven mitts when handling hot objects. Keep electrical devices such as toasters or mixers away from water. Keep things you use regularly within easy reach so you don’t have to stretch or climb. 

BATHROOM 

Never use an electrical extension to take ‘plugged in’ devices into a bathroom; electricity and water are a deadly combination. If you like to listen to the radio while you’re in the bath or shower, use a battery-powered model. Mop up any water spills and only use non-slip rubber-backed mats. If you struggle to get in and out of the bath, extra handrails or a bath lift can help. Grab rails are helpful in the shower, where you might want to use a shower seat and handheld showerhead if you find standing difficult. Always check the water temperature in a bath or shower before getting in. 

LIVING ROOM 

Modern homes are full of electrical gadgets, but you must avoid having trailing wires or cables, or running them under carpets or rugs. Doing either of these can result in trips and falls or a fire hazard as unseen cables become worn. Don’t overload electrical sockets. If you have an open fire or any type of solid fuel burner, it should be regularly maintained, including an annual inspection and cleaning of the chimney. Use a fireguard to catch sparks, especially if you leave the room. Make sure seating is in good condition, especially if you tend to ‘drop down’ onto a chair. If you have pets, make sure their toys are regularly tidied away so you don’t trip over them. 

BEDROOMS 

Avoid trip hazards, including loose or ‘turned up’ rugs, especially if you need to get up in the night. Don’t overload electrical sockets and never fall asleep with something like a laptop in the bed. Smoking in bed is extremely dangerous. If you use portable heaters, keep them at least a yard from anything flammable and turned off if you’re not in the room. Electric blankets should be regularly inspected and discarded if worn or frayed. Use a sturdy stepladder if you need to get up high for changing a lightbulb or storing things on top of a wardrobe. Keep a flashlight handy in case of a power outage. 

BASEMENT 

Ensure the steps to your basement are well-lit and in good condition. Painting the bottom step white and marking step edges with anti-slip hazard tape will aid visibility. Never store flammable materials in a basement; why would you want a fire hazard under your home? If you have domestic appliances in your basement, make sure they’re regularly cleaned and serviced. Don’t overload shelving units and make sure they’re stable and not top-heavy. Unplug electrical items when not in use. 

LAUNDRY/UTILITY ROOM 

If you have a tumble dryer it will have a lint trap which should be cleaned out after every use (a build-up of lint is a fire hazard). Also, clean out the dryer vent hose regularly using a long brush, and don’t run the dryer when you’re not at home. Washing machines can also catch fire so make sure yours is in good order. Keep electrical items away from water sources and mop up any spills. 

HALLWAYS 

Entrance halls often have hard floors and can become slippery when wet. If you tread rain or mud into the hallway, make sure to mop it up, and if you have mats or rugs there they should have a non-slip backing. Avoid clutter and trip hazards in any walkways. 

GARAGE/WORKSHOP 

If you store flammable liquids such as fuel for a mower or paint thinners, keep them to a minimum and always store them in suitable containers away from heat sources. Check them regularly. Try to limit clutter in your garage or workshop and check the floor regularly for oil or fuel spills. Never leave a vehicle engine running in an enclosed garage, leading to a build-up of toxic carbon monoxide fumes. Workshops should be well-ventilated and well-lit. 

STAIRS 

Make sure stairs are always free of clutter – a trip or fall on the stairs could be catastrophic. Check that stairs carpets are not loose or worn. Handrails and banisters should be securely fixed and stairs should be well lit. Don’t climb the stairs in ‘sloppy fitting’ shoes or slippers, or long flowing clothes which you could trip on. If reduced mobility or a health condition means you no longer feel safe on the stairs, consider investing in a home stairlift. 

SOME GENERAL TIPS 

Some home safety tips apply throughout the home. Make sure you have good lighting, especially on staircases, as poor lighting causes falls. Use high-wattage lightbulbs, but don’t exceed the stated limit of the socket you’re fitting them to. Avoid clutter and trip hazards everywhere, but especially in dangerous areas such as staircases. You should work out an emergency escape plan for your home, so you know how to get out of any room in the event of a fire. For upper story rooms, this might mean emergency fire escape ladders which can be unrolled from a window. Smoke detectors should be installed in strategic locations throughout the home and tested regularly, with the batteries changed once a year. Carbon monoxide detectors are also a good idea, to alert you to any build-up of this toxic gas which is given off by anything that burns. Some detectors combine both functions. Having a number of dry powder fire extinguishers around the home is also a good idea.