Home safety assessment is a critical part of senior living. It helps ensure your loved one lives in a safe and healthy environment by ensuring the home meets their needs and is easy to navigate without assistance. If you’re considering a move for yourself or an aging parent, it’s important that you find a community that provides thorough assessments so they can make well-informed decisions about their health and wellbeing.
Out-Of-The-Way Or Cluttered Areas
Out-of-the-way or cluttered areas are perfect for seniors to get hurt or injured. These areas can be hard to see, especially if there is little light in them. For example, you may have an elderly person who had fallen and hurt themselves because they were sitting in their chair when they tripped over something on the floor next to them.
You should always make sure that any furniture or items in these spaces are moved so that there’s plenty of space for everyone who lives here and moves about comfortably without worrying about getting hurt by something else in their path.
Light Switches, Electrical Outlets, And Plugs
Light switches should be located within easy reach of the resident. The switch should be easy to flip on and off with minimal effort so that the resident can use it if they need help getting up from a chair or bed.
Electrical outlets should always have covers over them except when an appliance is plugged in. This will help prevent accidental shocks or burns if someone touches them while plugged in without realizing it. It also makes cleaning around these areas easier and lessens potential hazards for children who may come into contact with them unsupervised by an adult caregiver or family member who might otherwise have been watching out for their safety while playing nearby during mealtime hours (for example).
Windows And Doors
Windows and doors are common features in many homes. They’re useful for letting in natural light, allowing fresh air to circulate, and giving you a view of the outside world from your home. But they can also be dangerous if they need to be installed correctly or if they have been damaged over time by weather conditions such as rainstorms or heat waves.
The first thing to look at when assessing the safety of your windows and doors is whether they are still intact enough to keep out intruders who want to enter your property without permission.
Stairs And Ramps
Stairs and ramps are the most common sources of injury among aging family members. One in three falls occurs on stairs, and one in four falls occurs on a ramp. The most significant risk factor is an age-related decline in strength, balance, and coordination, making it more difficult for older adults to negotiate these obstacles.
The risk is even greater when you consider that many older adults use walkers or canes to help them get around; these devices can make it more difficult for someone who needs assistance because they tend not to be designed with stairways in mind!
To ensure your loved one is safe, look at the stairs and ramps in their senior living home. Are they sturdy? Do they have handrails? Is there enough lighting? If you need help with how to inspect these areas yourself, contact an inspector who can come out and do it for you.
Furniture Arrangement
The furniture arrangement in your senior living home can indicate how safe it is for seniors. If you have a lot of clutter, it’s easy for someone with mobility issues to get trapped or lost in the shuffle. If there is a clear path through the house, it’s easier for caregivers and family members helping with day-to-day tasks like laundry or meal prep.
When assessing senior-friendly independent living communities, look at how the rooms are laid out: Are there clearly defined pathways from one area to another? Is there enough space between beds so that someone isn’t tripping over them when they walk down the hallways? Do all doors swing inward (so residents don’t accidentally open them into traffic) or outward (so residents aren’t locked in)?
