Holiday Home Safety Tips for Seniors

The holidays are just around the corner and many families are looking forward to seeing their loved ones that they may not normally see during the rest of the year. While it is a joyous time, there are also safety risks associated with welcoming an elderly family member into your home. Fortunately, there are a few simple steps you can take to make your home safer for your elderly family members so your gatherings can be safe and enjoyable for everyone involved.

Make Your Bathroom Safe

Bathrooms can be one of the most dangerous places in you or a senior’s home. Things get wet, slippery, and foggy, all contributing to falls and other accidental injuries. Ideally, senior’s bathrooms should be equipped with things like hand-held showerheads, grab bars, and a special bathing chair (if needed). However, this isn’t practical if you’re simply having your grandparents over for a visit. Instead, take these steps to make your bathroom safe:

• Place rubber or non-slip bath mats in and outside of the bathtub and shower
• Install a night-light in the bathroom to make it easier to see in the dark
• Set your water heater to be no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent scalding and burns
• Make sure everything your loved one will need is easily accessible, including towels, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, toilet paper, etc.

Enact Fall Prevention Techniques

According to the National Council on Aging, an older adult is treated in the ER every 11 seconds from a fall. Furthermore, every 19 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall. Falls, both with and without injury, can impact a person’s quality of life. Even if they aren’t injured, they may begin fearing falling again and stop living their lives to the fullest as a result. You can prevent your senior loved ones from falling in your home by taking fall prevention safety steps.

First, you should safety-proof your home. This means removing or picking up anything in your home that could make a fall more likely. For example, if you have exposed, loose electrical cords running in your living room, make sure to tape them down or remove them completely from walking areas. You may also move coffee tables, floor lamps, and other items from high-traffic walkways. Be sure to check for any loose carpets or floorboards, as well. By removing these unnecessary hazards, you may be able to prevent a fall.

While installing things like grab bars or raised seats aren’t practical for simply hosting an elderly loved one during the holiday, you can do small things like improving your interior lighting and encouraging your loved one to wear non-slip grip shoes when in the home. Both of these things can help prevent a fall.

Be Prepared for Winter Weather

Winter is an especially dangerous time for seniors, especially when freezing temperatures, sleet, ice, and snow are thrown into the mix. Inclement weather conditions such as these can make seniors more susceptible to falls, injury, and other health effects. 

If you’ve had inclement weather, be sure to clear off walkways around your home so your loved ones don’t slip when entering and exiting your house. Accompany your elderly loved ones on walks to and from the car and other locations to help minimize fall risk. 

You may also take extra precautions to keep your loved ones more comfortable by placing a portable heater in their room, providing them with extra blankets, and making sure the thermostat stays at a comfortable temperature.

Avoid Holiday Crowds to Keep Your Loved One Healthy

Unfortunately, in a time of COVID-19, spending holidays with our loved ones is going to look different than it has in the past. And, when it comes to senior citizens, it is even most important to take the right precautions to keep them healthy. Holiday crowds and public gatherings are a popular past-time for many Americans during the holiday season. However, seniors are more prone to catching viral illnesses and are more likely to experience complications and severe illness as a result of COVID-19.

This year, it may be a better idea to opt for at-home activities that are limited to just your family so you don’t expose your elderly family members to a deadly illness. If you do decide to go out, whether it be for holiday shopping, viewing holiday lights, or going out to eat, be sure to carry hand sanitizer and wipes with you to clean any contaminated surfaces. Most importantly, be sure to wear a mask, practice social distancing, and follow all other CDC guidelines.

Staying Safe With Your Elderly Loved Ones This Holiday Season

Identifying possible safety risks and taking steps to mitigate them is crucial for making your home safe and fun for all during the holiday season. Fortunately, doing so doesn’t have to be hard - or expensive! Making your home safer for the holidays is as simple as cleaning up clutter, eliminating fall risks, and keeping the health of your loved ones at the forefront of your mind. A safe and healthy holiday is a happy and joyous one, so take these steps this holiday season to keep your senior family members safe.