Stage Your House for Senior Safety
When staging your home for senior safety, it is important that you take all the necessary steps to ensure that your elder can get around the home safely and adequately. After all, you want to maximize your elder’s independence, allowing him or her to feel confident in getting around the home. Before staging your living quarters, be sure to address the individual needs of your elder, such as any restrictions or limitations. For example, you may need to have a wheelchair ramp and wide entryways for a wheelchair or walker to get through.
Once the individual needs of your elder are addressed, you will need to go through each room and make it as safe as possible for your loved one. The 
bathroom should have rails around the tub and toilet for additional support, while nonskid bath mats should be placed in and around the bathtub. Lighting should be bright throughout the whole house, allowing your elder to see clearly. Medicine bottles should be labeled and kept in an accessible cabinet. Also be sure to include a phone or alarm system in each room so that your loved one can alert someone if they need medical attention.
To prevent slips and falls, make sure rugs are either removed or secured to the floor using double sided tape. Make sure that areas are open and clear, removing small or breakable items that lie in busy paths. Pay close attention to stairways, clearing them of clutter and ensuring that a durable rail is installed on the wall. Also keep the water heater turned down to reduce the risk of burns in the shower or kitchen.
