American Medical Association Family Medical Guide - American Medical Association [146]
A safe environment is often the most immediate concern when an older or disabled person lives alone. Take a careful look around the home and take the following steps to make the home safe:
• Modify the home as needed to help prevent falls (see below right).
• Install smoke alarms (especially near bedrooms and the kitchen) and a carbon monoxide detector. Check the batteries frequently and replace them on the same day every year, whether they need it or not.
• Plan an escape route in case of fire. Have regular fire drills.
• Keep a clear path to all doors that lead outside.
• Set the temperature of the water heater below 110°F to prevent burns.
• Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen, and learn how to use and maintain it properly.
• Repair or replace any electrical appliances that have frayed wires or damaged plugs.
• Do not overload electrical outlets.
• Remove electrical cords from under rugs or carpets.
• Install deadbolt locks on outside doors, sturdy locks on all windows, and motion-detector lights on the grounds of the home.
• Have the furnace and thermostat inspected by a qualified professional.
Organizing the Room
When organizing the person’s room, think about his or her needs. Consider how ill he or she is and how long you are likely to be caring for him or her. Arrange the room to make it as comfortable and convenient as possible for the person who is being cared for and the caregivers. Here are some helpful tips:
• In a two-story house, it is better for the person to stay on the first floor. He or she will feel less isolated, you will eliminate a lot of trips up and down the stairs, and you can prevent falls.
• Provide a single bed, positioned so it is accessible from both sides. If you need a hospital bed, you can rent one from a medical supply company.
• Provide a bedside table stocked with medications, water, tissues, a whistle or bell (to call for help), and any other important items.
• If the person can get out of bed but cannot get to the bathroom easily, you will need to get a commode (a portable chair that contains a removable bedpan). You can rent or buy one from a drugstore or medical supply company or, in some communities, borrow one from a local health agency or volunteer organization. If the person is confined to bed, keep a bedpan (and a handheld urinal for a man or boy) near the bed at all times.
• Keep the temperature in the room comfortable and the air circulation adequate, but keep the room free of drafts.
Preventing Falls
Carefully and thoroughly inspect the house or apartment of the person you are caring for and make all necessary changes to help prevent falls. Here are some things you can do:
• Make sure that light switches are within easy reach of doorways so the person does not have to cross a dark room to turn on a light. Lighting that is too dim can make it difficult to see. Use high-watt bulbs but make sure they are frosted to reduce glare.
• Place a lamp within reach of the person’s bed. Put night-lights along the pathways between the bedrooms and the bathroom and a night-light in the bathroom.
• Remove loose rugs, mats, and runners. Make sure that all other carpets and rugs have slip-resistant backing or that they are tacked down to prevent trips and slips.
• Arrange furniture so the person has a clear, unobstructed path from one place to another. Keep hallways and stairs clear and uncluttered. Take special care with placement of furniture that has sharp or pointed corners or that is easy to bump into or fall over such as ottomans and coffee tables. Remove any furniture that is not being used. Provide a remote control for the television.
• Keep telephone and electrical cords out of pathways.
• Provide sturdy handrails on both sides of all stairways, 30 inches above the steps. Use nonskid treads on all bare steps. If a stairway is carpeted, make sure that the carpeting is tacked down securely on every step. Do not put loose rugs at the top or bottom of stairways. All stairways should