Alzheimer's Foundation of America provides tips for those living with Alzheimer's disease
The Alzheimer's Foundation of America is sharing home safety tips for families who care for loved ones living with Alzheimer's disease. The Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) has provided home safety tips for families caring for loved ones with Alzheimer's disease or any other dementia-related illness. The first step towards improvement is to embrace technology, such as smart smoke/ carbon monoxide alarms, and app-controlled thermostats. These tools can assist caregivers during times when they are away and can't monitor their charge. Video doorbells allow caregivers to receive notice via smartphone when an individual is approaching or leaving the home in real time. Other tools include automatic fire extinguishers that can handle cooking fires. Be mindful of color choices, contrast, and lighting, as dementia can impact eyesight and spatial orientation.
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The Alzheimer's Foundation of America is sharing home safety tips for families who care for loved ones living with Alzheimer's disease or any other dementia-related illness.
"Every family caregiver's number one priority is making sure their loved one is safe, but most homes are not designed with the needs of someone living with dementia in mind," said Jennifer Reeder, LCSW, AFA's Director of Educational & Social Services.
"From smart technology to simply removing clutter, there are steps caregivers can take to make a home safer and more dementia friendly, improving their loved one's quality of life as well as their own."
Embrace technology. The first step towards improvement and ensuring safety is to utilize technological resources. More tools are accessible today to assist caregivers at times when they are away and can't monitor their charge.
• Smart smoke/ carbon monoxide alarms are devices that can be set to have a human voice to notify residents of danger and its location. Caregivers are able to test these systems and receive notifications through an app if needed.
• App-controlled thermostats give caregivers the opportunity to assess, set up, and control the home's temperature when away to make sure the home isn't getting too hot or too cold.
• Video doorbells allow caregivers to receive notice via smartphone when an individual is approaching or leaving the home, in real time. Also in real-time, the ability to talk through the doorbell to the person at the door is featured
• Automatic fire extinguishers that are latched to the inside of the hood of a stove and dispense baking soda if a cooking fire arises.
Remove clutter and tripping hazards. A person's balance is affected by Dementia, and it makes them a fall risk especially if they already have issues with mobility. Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death for adults aged 65 and older, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Take steps to eliminate potential tripping hazards, such as clutter, loose wires, and throw rugs. To reduce slipping, utilize bathroom rugs with rubberized backing. Only put the rugs out during bath time for those experiencing problems with mobility.
Small adaptations can make a big difference. Relatively inexpensive adaptations that greatly improve safety for someone living with dementia: covering sharp edges of furniture and countertops with rubber corner protectors, applying floor-level night lights in hallways or bathrooms that automatically illuminate in the dark, and using grab bars in showers and toilet paper holders to aid with transferring.
Be mindful of color choices, contrast, and lighting. Dementia can impact eyesight and negatively affect a person's ability to judge distance and space. Color contrast is important, as it supports vision, depth perception, and spatial orientation. Using different colors in such things as contrasting furniture and floor colors enhances the individual's ability to navigate and interact with their environment safely. Use glare-free lighting whenever possible, as glare-producing lights could affect the vision of someone with dementia.
A model home, constructed to serve as dementia-friendly called "The Apartment" showcases these and other steps families can take to make a home safer and more dementia-friendly.
Learn more about the home here.