Staying safe at home is a concern for everyone, while with senior citizens the challenge is even a little greater. Fortunately, with the technology available for use and the research done over the years, there are a lot of new ideas for how to make your home security plan tighter than ever before. Here are five areas to look over at home.
1. Home layout. As physical movements become more constricted with advanced age, the layout of one’s home becomes important. It is important to have easy access to cabinets and dressers you use frequently. If you find yourself going out of your way repeatedly or need to rearrange everything in your kitchen or bedroom, ask a relative or friend for help. It’s better to take an afternoon and solve the problem than continue to have a lingering issue. Telephones and light switches ought to be within reach, especially in the bedroom. Consider a remote or hands-free light control system.
2. Lighting precautions. You can use lighting to enhance your home security both inside and outside. Make sure each area of your home has its own light source. For nighttime, use night lights to chart the course from your bedroom to your bathroom and on the staircases as well. At the entrance to your home, have lights outside for safer entrance and right inside the door so you are not struggling with bag, doorknobs and locks all at the same time. Have a flashlight by your bed.
3. Visibility. Keeping everything bright and visible will make your life easier. Consider shifting the color of your walls to a brighter pigment, and have a new coating put on at the first sign of wear. You shouldn’t have any trouble with identifying a railing, even peripherally, and you don’t want to be clipped by a piece of furniture close to the doorway or in the hallway.
4. Smoke detector and home alarm checks. It’s recommended to check on your smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector periodically. A log recording when you installed batteries would help. You should also have your home alarm system tested on a regular basis, so you are never in doubt about your protection while at home, or about your possessions when you are away.
5. Medical Assist equipment. Another great way to increase your safety is a personal emergency device. Being able to contact emergency services without using the telephone might be necessary in the event of an accident. You can choose from many different options, but the best will come with an intercom system, allowing you to address an operator with your specific problems. Ideally, such a device can be worn on a light necklace or like a wristwatch and can be used along with your home security system. If you find the right device, it may be able to protect you with hundreds of feet of your home.
Protecting yourself and your love ones in advanced age might seem complicated, but the folks at
ADT have a lot of ideas on how to simplify the process. See what
ADT can do to make you breathe a little bit easier and enjoy these great years.
