"How to Create a Safe and Accessible Environment for Elderly Loved Ones: Lessons from My Experience"

As our loved ones age, ensuring their living environment is safe and accessible becomes increasingly important. Based on my personal experience with my mother, here are some guidelines to help achieve this:

1. Lighting:

   - Adequate lighting is essential. Ensure that all rooms have sufficient illumination, especially in hallways, staircases, and bathrooms.

   - Use nightlights in bedrooms and hallways to prevent falls during nighttime trips.

2. Stair Safety:

   - Install handrails on both sides of staircases.

   - Keep stairs clear of clutter, and ensure that steps are in good condition.

   - Consider adding contrasting tape or paint to the edges of steps for better visibility.

3. Kitchen Safety:

   - Store frequently used items within easy reach.

   - Use nonslip mats near the sink and stove.

   - Secure heavy appliances to prevent accidental tipping.

4. Emergency Preparedness:

   - Keep emergency contact numbers accessible.

   - Install smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms.

   - Create an emergency evacuation plan and practice it with the senior.

Remember, small adjustments can significantly enhance safety and comfort for seniors at home. Regularly assess their needs and adapt the environment accordingly.

Physical Safety

• Flooring, Carpets, Furniture Arrangement, and Railings:

• These elements should be designed to eliminate the risk of slipping, tripping, or falling.

• The environment should be dedicated to the comfort and safety of the elderly.

• Avoid placing rugs that increase the risk of slipping or obstruct the passage of a walker or wheelchair in the path of elderly residents.

• Provide an armchair for the elderly.

• Ensure that the bathroom and toilet have:

• Assistive grab bars

• Raised toilet seats

• Suitable faucets

• Ideally, a place for the elderly to sit while bathing

As my mother aged, we made efforts to remove rugs that could potentially cause slipping on the ceramic floor and tucked the edges of the remaining rugs under to prevent tripping or her walker from getting caught. Gradually, we rearranged the furniture so that the legs of tables and chairs would not be in her walking path. We tried various non-slip mats under the shower and eventually concluded that the bathroom floor must be regularly cleaned to be free of soap and shampoo residues. Since the highest risk of slipping is in the bathroom, after our loved ones shower, we wash away any soap and shampoo residue from the bathroom floor and then dry it.

Accessibility and Removal of Excess Items

• With age, the proximity and ease of access to necessary and frequently used items are important for the independence and safety of the elderly.

• Retrieving clothes hanging in the wardrobe becomes difficult, necessitating placing them on a rack beside the room or on a shelf.

• Place a small table beside their bed and armchair to hold tissues, paper, and a pencil, a weekly medication box, and use drawers that open easily.

• Keep the clothes they wear every day within easy reach.

• Keep bathroom items accessible.

• Rearrange cabinets so that frequently used dishes are within easy reach.

When my mother managed herself, there was a bedside table with a drawer above her head that held her belongings, medicines, and a comb. She placed her radio and glass of water on it, and her home clothes were kept at the bottom of the wardrobe for easy access. We helped her choose and pick clothes for gatherings. After she was hospitalized, her medicines and creams remained on the same table, and later, when she couldn't move around or reach out, she only held a tissue in her delicate hands.

By following these guidelines, we can help create a safe and accessible environment that enhances the quality of life for our elderly loved ones. This approach, drawn from my personal experience with my mother, ensures their comfort and safety, allowing them to maintain their independence for as long as possible.