Spring will be here before we know it. In fact, the first day of Spring is Tuesday, March 20. Temperatures will slowly start to rise, and the days will start to get longer.
But as the weather warms and things begin to thaw, there’s often a need to do some general spring home maintenance. For aging seniors, some routine tasks can be difficult to manage, particularly if they have mobility issues. There are several ways you can assist your aging loved one to help get their home ready for spring and ensure a safe, secure environment inside and out.
Inspect the medicine cabinet. This is a good time to go through your loved one’s medicine cabinet and purge any expired, unused medication. Also, be sure the medicines they take daily are stored properly – in a cool, dry, dark place. If you need information and tips on the safe disposal of medications, visit the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.
Change smoke detector batteries. Periodically checking smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and emergency kits is always a good idea. The U.S. Fire Administration recommends testing smoke detectors at least once a month, and batteries should be replaced at least twice a year. A good way to help remember to do this is to replace the batteries when changing clocks for daylight saving time — when you spring forward or fall back.
Because smoke detectors are typically located on the ceiling or high on the wall, their location presents a fall hazard for the elderly. Helping your senior with this important task can reduce their fall risk.
Help with general cleaning. Spring is the perfect time to clean areas of the house that often are neglected. Clean window casings and base boards, tops of cabinets and ceiling fans. Launder or dry-clean fabric curtains and clean wood and vinyl blinds. Vacuum upholstered furniture and have carpets professionally cleaned.
Get rid of clutter. Cleaning up clutter should be part of an overall spring cleaning routine. Maintaining a clear and tidy walkway for seniors inside the home can help prevent falls. Pick up anything on the floor that could be a tripping hazard, such as rugs and unnecessary furniture. If lamp and other cords are in the middle of a walkway, consider moving anything that is plugged in to a different area of the home.
Do a home safety check. It is important to make sure aging seniors living at home feel safe. In addition to de-cluttering and removing potential hazards in key areas of the home, it might be time to make some simple, inexpensive changes including:
Adding secure railings to both sides of stairs, inside and outside the home.
Making sure the home has adequate light by adding brighter bulbs to lamps, nightlights in hallways and motion lights around outdoor walkways.
Adding grab bars inside and outside the tub or shower, as well as next to the toilet. Depending on need and mobility, consider adding a shower chair or installing a hand-held shower.
FirstLight Home Care can assist family caregivers and the seniors they care for with a variety of light housekeeping tasks, such as cleaning and changing smoke detector batteries, through our Companion Care Services. Our professional caregivers also provide Personal Care Services to aid and assist with the activities of daily living.
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FirstLight Home Care of Tri-Valley provides in-home care services to seniors, people with disabilities, patients needing recovery and rehabilitation services, veterans, and busy moms. We serve clients in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties, mainly in Danville, Blackhawk, San Ramon, Dublin, Pleasanton, Castro Valley, Hayward, Livermore, and communities along the 680 Corridor of the East Bay.
For more information, email us at TriValley@FirstLightHomeCare.com or call us at 925-359-9250. You may also leave us a message here.