The ultimate home safety guide for seniors

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As you age, you lose control over aspects of your life. Your body becomes weaker, you lose friends and family members to the passage of time, and your mind isn’t as sharp as it once was. 

For many seniors, living in familiar surroundings can help them keep a sense of control over their lives. Aging in place refers to living out your days independently, rather than surrendering to residential aged care. This could mean staying in the same house you’ve lived in your whole life, or downsizing to a smaller place.

According to the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI), 78 to 81 per cent of over 55s want to age in place. There are downsides though, especially since you don’t have healthcare professionals checking in on you at all hours of the day. It’s important to prioritise the safety of your home, as you become more susceptible to falls and burns.

Greatest risks for seniors living at home

Fall hazards

Falls are one of the most common injuries and causes of hospitalisation for those over 65. It's the top cause of accidental injury in older Aussies, with around 1 in 4 clocking a fall per year. 

6 out of 10 falls happen in and around the home. They're the result of poor lighting, slippery floors, and clutter. Wet floors, loose tiles, electrical cords, rugs, mats, and general clutter can result in a tumble.  

Even when they don’t cause a life-altering injury, falls can cause a loss of confidence, especially if nobody is around to call for help.

Prevention

If you've had a fall in the past year, talk to your healthcare provider for a risk assessment. You might be eligible for in-house help or an exercise program to keep your muscles strong.

We'd also reccommend booking an appointment with your doctor. Even though you might feel fine, a fall can be indicative of a new medical problem, a side effect of a new medication, or muscle weakness.

To prevent falls on slippery floors, ensure you wear non-slip or thin-soled shoes. Keep the floors dry and your living space well-lit to increase your visibility. Leaving a light on during the night can help, too. You might want to consider installing motion-sensor lights in the hallway or stairwell to prevent nighttime falls.

Best smartwatch for seniors

*Pricing is accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

If you were alone when the fall happened, consider purchasing a medical alert device. These pendants have fall detection built into them, so if you take a tumble, the device will contact your loved ones and/or emergency services. 

The Apple SE (2nd generation) smartwatch is packed with senior-friendly features like health tracking and fall detection. The watch detects a change in speed and altitude, triggering a fall alert. It’ll ask if you need any assistance and if you don't respond, it’ll call for help in the next 60 seconds. 

It also has a side button that can call emergency contacts and share medical information (like which medications you're taking and your blood type) with first responders. 

The Apple SE (2nd generation) is pretty expensive up front, but if you have an iPhone, you won't need to fork out a monthly fee or get a compatible eSIM plan.

Loneliness

The findings of an article in the American Journal for Geriatric Psychiatry revealed that prolonged loneliness can put seniors at an increased risk of death, coronary heart disease, stroke, and cognitive decline.

Not only are seniors more vulnerable to the consequences of loneliness, but they’re dependent on family members or community services for physical and mental support. Without this support, they can fall victim to anxiety, depression, and paranoia.

Prevention

Keep in contact with your family, friends, and loved ones. While technology can seem daunting for many seniors, it can streamline daily tasks and can bolster relationships with your children and grandchildren. 

As the body gets older, it depends on medication to manage changes in biological function. Older people have set routines around which medication they take. Virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa can be used to set reminders, so you can remind your future self to take your medication. This lightens the mental load of having to remember which medications have or haven't been taken.

They can also be used to play music and make phone calls. Life can be difficult for older adults with dexterity, eyesight, or joint issues. These growing pains can make interacting with technology hard, especially if they’re related to a health condition or chronic disease. With virtual assistants, seniors can still reap the benefits of technology.

Even though there’s no substitute for the voice or the touch of a family member, using technology to pick up the slack can make older adults feel a little less lonely, especially if they live by themselves.  

Best virtual assistant for seniors

The Amazon Echo Dot (5th generation) uses the Alexa assistant to interpret your vocal commands. It can interact with any smart home device that’s compatible with Alexa, so you can ask it to set a timer, turn on the TV, or order an Uber. If you have smart light bulbs or locks, you can also ask them to check the security of the front door or dim the living room lights.

Prioritising safety with government initiatives

The Home Care Package (HCP)

There’s no shame in admitting you’re not as strong as you used to be. Sometimes the lawn gets too overgrown to manage, or an injury prevents you from cleaning the house. 

If you’re over 65 and an Australian citizen, you have access to the government-funded ‘Home Care Package’, or HCP. These packages assist seniors living at home to help them maintain their independence. You’ll be paying a provider to work with you and coordinate the services you need at your current support level. You might receive a personal shopper, someone to take care of your pets, or in-home medical care. The HCP can also cover health services like physiotherapy and occupational therapy.

Under the HCP, you can loan or buy subsidised safety devices like personal alarms or sensor mats. You can also receive items that will make your life easier as you age, like shower chairs, walking frames, and medical-grade footwear.

The HCP comprises a subsidy (what the government pays) and out-of-pocket costs (what you’ll pay). The more support you need, the greater the subsidy you'll receive.

Home maintenance assistance

Security cameras are a neat addition to your home. They can scare off intruders and help you feel safer, especially if you live alone. The Queensland government is offering eligible homeowners financial assistance of up to $10,000 for the installation of security cameras. 

The initiative will also subsidise practical home security improvements like:

  • Strengthening windows and locks
  • Installing CCTV cameras 
  • Addressing overall security weaknesses

To be considered eligible, you must:

  • Be a homeowner living in the Mount Isa, Townsville, Cairns, Toowoomba, Tablelands, or Mareeba Local Government Area
  • Be aged 60 years or over
  • Hold a current Pensioner Concession Card or Veteran Card. 

Home Assist Secure

The Queensland government also runs the Home Assist Secure initiative. It aims to help those who are incapable of performing certain jobs due to a health or safety risk. They’re also providing safety-related information, referrals, and subsidised assistance for:

  • Backyard and outside maintenance
  • Smoke alarm-related jobs like installation, battery changes, and vent cleaning
  • Any jobs, repairs and maintenance requiring a licensed tradesperson
  • Any task that improves your health, safety, and security, or needs to be done so you can remain in your home

To be considered eligible, you must:

  • Be over 65 years of age
  • Hold a current Pensioner Concession Card
  • Be unable to complete the work yourself because it requires technical expertise or is a risk to your health and safety
  • Be unable to complete the work through alternative assistance routes like the Commonwealth Home Support Program, Department of Veteran Affairs, or family and friends

Room-by-room safety tips

Bedroom

The primary risks: 

  • Getting in and out of bed
  • Tripping over pets, cords, and clutter

How to keep yourself safe:

  • Make sure your mattress is of the right height and firmness. 
  • Roll on your side and sit up before standing, and wait for any dizziness to fade before doing so. 
  • If you're getting up during the night, turn on a nearby light switch or lamp to give yourself time to adjust to the light. Alternatively, keep the hallway light on during the night.

Bathroom

The primary risks:

  • Tripping on wet floors
  • Slipping while getting in and out of the shower or bath

How to keep yourself safe: 

  • Use non-slip mats.
  • Install grab rails in the shower.
  • Install a shower caddy for easy-to-reach toiletries. 
  • Keep the floors dry.

Kitchen

The primary risks:

  • Spills
  • Burns from carrying hot items

How to keep yourself safe: 

  • Keep the kitchen well-lit at all times.
  • Ask for help if you need it while carrying hot items. 
  • Use oven mitts when carrying hot food. 

Living room

The primary risks:

  • Getting in and out of lounges or chairs
  • Tripping over clutter

How to keep yourself safe:

  • Make sure your chair isn't too low.
  • Use the chair or lounge armrests to hoist yourself up. 
  • Keep the space clean and free of clutter.
  • Manage cables to prevent them from becoming a tripping hazard.

Floors and stairs

The primary risks:

  • Tripping up or down the stairs.
  • Reduced visibility during the night.

How to keep yourself safe: 

  • Make sure stairways and hallways are well-lit.
  • Install motion-sensor lights to illuminate your path during the night.
  • Make sure your floor coverings are not slippery.
  • Tack down rugs that curl at the edges.

Outside the home

The primary risks:

  • Patios and outdoor areas can become slippery when wet 
  • Garden equipment can become a tripping hazard

How to keep yourself safe:

  • Keep the patio and backyard well-lit.
  • Properly maintain your outdoor area so it doesn't pose a tripping hazard.
  • Store garden equipment in the garage or shed, not out in the yard. It could pose a tripping hazard, or get in the hands of young children
  • If you have odd jobs that need doing, make sure you have the right equipment and consider asking someone to help or do the job with you.

Final word

Living at home rather than in a residential facility has its benefits. However, it can also cause stress on your physical and emotional health. This is why it's important to bolster your home safety. Take care to avoid fall hazards, spills, burns, and the loneliness that can accompany living at home. 

Hannah Geremia
Written by
Hannah Geremia
Hannah has had over six years of experience in researching, writing, and editing quality content. She loves gaming, dancing, and animals, and can usually be found under a weighted blanket with a cup of coffee and a book.

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