Independent living is a common practise among many of the elderly and having a suitable checklist to ensure you have a comfortable life is important. There are many things that get missed out when you live alone, especially if you have some health concerns or pre-existing conditions which can harm your well-being.
With proper planning and a safety checklist, you can avoid much of the problems that can occur. Whether it is a short circuit, slips, or other complications a simple checklist for the elderly from B&S Printing can help make things smoother and hassle free.
Of the most commonly occurring accidents among the elderly, falls are the highest reason for casualties. Many a time injuries occur due to something that was overlooked, could have been easily fixed around the home but wasn’t which led to an injury. Here are some top checklist items to follow:
- Install smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms in the home, every room and every space.
- Pre-arrange an emergency code response message with a neighbour, family member or someone who can immediately come and help you, should you have an emergency situation.
- Have a fire extinguisher handy for kitchen fires.
- Install ground circuit fire interrupters in locations that are damp such as the bathroom, kitchen, garage, sink area or utility tubs.
- Ensure all medication matches, flammable liquids or other dangerous substances are kept out of reach of children and pets while they visit.
- Good lighting is an important consideration to check and avoid falls both inside and outside the home.
- Find good quality slip resistant mats and shoes to use around the home to prevent problems.
- Walking surfaces and spills should be cleaned up immediately to prevent any falls.
- Water heaters shouldn’t be set to above 102 degrees, this prevents burns and also check the thermostat is functioning well to avoid bursting or other complications.
These simple tips can save the life of an elderly loved one. Follow these to keep them safe, and maybe even save a life.