A Safe Home in the Orlando, Florida Area
- April 14, 2022
- ontarget
- Elder Law
- 0 Comments
Do you live with an elderly loved one? Does this loved one have dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease? Is your house safe for them? If not, there are things you can do to make your Orlando, Florida house safer. Why is this important? People with Alzheimer’s Disease can have trouble with balance, depth perception, and forgetfulness. You can do things in the different rooms in your house to make it a safer place for your loved one to live.
Kitchen
All kinds of accidents can happen in the kitchen, especially when your loved one has dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease. Here are steps you can take to make the kitchen safer: add safety knobs to the stove, add child proof latches to cabinets, keep cleaning products locked away, remove any small rugs, add a night light and disconnect the garbage disposal. To avoid vision-related accidents, avoid displaying artificial fruit that looks edible and use dishes and placemats that have contrasting colors. Place a sign that says “don’t touch” near items that can get hot like toasters and stoves.
Living Room
In the living room, you can do the following to keep your loved one safe: remove tripping hazards, such as area rugs, and tack extension cords to baseboards. Place decals on large windows and sliding glass doors to improve visibility. Do not leave an open fire in a fireplace unattended, and place padding on corners of furniture with sharp edges. Remove stacks of magazines or newspapers that can be picked up or tripped over.
Bathroom
Like kitchens, bathrooms often come with a unique set of hazards to avoid. Take the following steps to make the bathroom safer: add non-stick strips to showers and other areas, add a shower chair, and install grab bars by the toilet and in the tub and shower. Place a foam rubber cover over the faucet in the tub, and set the water to 120 degrees. Add an elevated toilet seat. Keep medication and cleaning products locked away. Add a night light, and remove the inside lock on the door.
Bedroom
The following are steps you can take to make your loved one’s bedroom safer: remove throw rugs, add a night light, be careful with heating pads and electric blankets which can cause burns, do not use space heaters, include seating near the bed, take down mirrors, and set up a monitoring device.
All Areas
In all areas of your home, you can do the following: post emergency numbers, insert safety plugs in into electric outlets, stay away from busy patterns on furniture, curtains and rugs, ensure each area of the home is well lit, add safety grips to wood staircases, and remove any plants that are poisonous.
If you have more questions regarding an Elder Law matter, you may call Ann Marie Giordano Gilden at Ann Marie Giordano Gilden, P.A. at 407-732-7620 and set an initial consultation.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not form an attorney client privilege.