Holidays with the Family: Keeping Your Elderly Loved Ones Safe

The holidays are just weeks away and, although they may look different this year due to COVID-19, many families are preparing to host their loved ones in their homes to celebrate together. While the holidays are a time of joy and companionship, welcoming an elderly family member, particularly one with mobility issues, into your home can come with a variety of safety risks. Fortunately, there are several simple things you can do to keep your senior loved ones safe - both in and outside the home.

Choose Small Celebrations Over Large Gatherings

Tree lightings, concerts, shows, holiday shopping, and other large gatherings are popular holiday traditions among many American families. This year, these gatherings are going to look different. Some are closed completely while others are operating on strict guidelines of social distancing, masks, and more. However, seniors are at a higher risk of developing serious illness as a result of COVID-19, so it may be a better idea to opt for at-home celebrations rather than public outings.

If you do go out, be sure to follow all CDC guidelines to protect yourselves, such as wearing a mask, limiting contact, social distancing, and more. To take extra precautions, carry a hand sanitizer or wipes with you and be sure to wash your hands frequently.

Take Steps for Fall Prevention in Your Home

The National Council on Aging reports that falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries for older Americans. In fact, every 11 seconds an older adult is treated in the emergency room because of a fall and one older adult dies from a fall every 19 minutes. Falls are a serious concern, especially among seniors with mobility issues or those who have fallen before. Since falls are a serious concern, it’s important to safety-proof your home.

The first step you can take towards fall prevention is to make sure all walkways in your home are clear of obstructions. Check for any loose cords, carpets, floorboards, and other hazards that could make a person trip and either secure or remove these items from high-traffic areas. You may also consider moving items such as coffee tables, lamps, rugs, and more away from walkways to prevent a fall.

Other things you can do for at-home fall prevention include installing bright lighting, placing nightlights in hallways and bathrooms, storing necessities such as towels and bath supplies in easy-to-reach locations, placing anti-slip bath maths in the bathroom, and encouraging your elderly loved one to wear non-slip grip shoes or slippers while moving around in the home.

Make Your Elderly Loved One’s Life as Easy as Possible

Oftentimes, little gestures make the biggest differences. While it’s probably not practical to install grab bars in your bathroom or invest in major home accessibility changes, there are small things you can do around your home to make your elderly loved one’s stay with you as smooth as possible. In order to do this, you want to think about accessibility.

Are your bath towels located under your sink? Do you have to reach over your head to grab your soap? These are two examples of things that seem normal to a young person but can make life more difficult for a senior citizen with mobility problems. Instead, place everything they will need in the bathroom in convenient places. For example, place bath towels right by the shower, soap and shampoo within reach, and anything else your loved one may need right in front of where they will need it. If they don’t have to bend over or reach to get something they need, they’re less likely to fall and injure themselves.

Another thing to consider is the weather. If you live somewhere where it’s cold or you’re having inclement weather, you’ll need to plan for this. Ice, sleet, and snow can make walkways slippery and lead to more falls and injuries. If your driveway or walkway is covered in ice, consider clearing it to make walking easier. You should also have someone accompany your elderly loved one, if needed, to and from the car or other locations when inclement weather has occurred. Lastly, you may place additional blankets in our loved one’s room.

Keep Yourself and Your Family Safe During the Holidays

By identifying home safety risks and taking the appropriate precautions, you can prevent your elderly loved one from falling, injuring themselves, or falling ill this holiday season. Best of all, these precautions aren’t expensive or hard to do! By making your home and your family safe during the holidays, you’ll be able to have a happy and joyous holiday season.