Nearly 7 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Protection, and many of those people continue living at home. For those caring for a person with Alzheimer’s, it’s important to make changes around the house that will keep their loved one safe. Research shows that people with dementia are more likely to be hospitalized from injuries in the home — including suffocation, falls and drug poisoning — than those who don’t have dementia.
To create a safer home, here are 16 steps caregivers can take.
- Walk around the house to identify and address potential dangers. Remove tripping hazards, such as throw rugs, cords and clutter. Pad sharp corners on furniture and secure heavy furniture that could tip over.
- Store poisonous substances, such as cleaning products, paints and other chemicals out of reach. Remove weapons from the home or secure them in a locked case. Put medications behind a locked door or cabinet.
- Brighten the corners. Make sure that rooms are lit in a manner that’s consistent, because areas of varying brightness and dimness can be disorienting. Plug in nightlights in bathrooms and other areas that may be visited after dark.
- Label rooms and doors to help avoid confusion and minimize wandering. Labels can also be helpful on cabinets and closets, as well as on the refrigerator to share notes about what’s inside.
- Line steps with brightly colored tape to help prevent falls.
- Place stickers or decals on windows and sliding glass doors to make them more visible.
- Remove or minimize mirrors around the home. Reflections may cause confusion and even fear for some people with Alzheimer’s.
- Make sure the home address and important phone number are displayed prominently (if you have a home phone, tape the information nearby; otherwise, place it on the refrigerator or next to a favorite chair). Some numbers to list include emergency contact numbers as well as the information for poison control and the individual’s healthcare providers.
- Install grab bars in the shower and tub and next to the toilet to prevent falls. Make sure their color contrasts with the surroundings so they’re easy to see.
- Consider purchasing an elevated toilet seat.
- Place non-slip mats or adhesive strips in the bathtub, shower and on the bathroom floor.
- If appropriate, get rid of décor with busy patterns, which can be confusing and overwhelming for some people with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
- Lock doors that may potentially lead to harm, including the basement, garage and entryways.
- Place safety plugs in electrical outlets.
- Set the water heater to 120 degrees or less to prevent burning/scalding.
- Make sure your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are working and keep fire extinguishers in an easy-to-reach location.
As a caregiver, keeping your loved one safe is a top priority. But in the process, don’t forget about your own mental and physical health: to give another person quality care, you must give yourself quality care. Think about actions you can take to prioritize your wellbeing, such as asking for help from friends and family or arranging for respite care. To learn more, visit our Caregiver Resource page.
