Top tips to keep elderly safe at home: Part 1

Here our myageingparent’s top ten tips for keeping your parent safe in their home. Watch our fall prevention video

1. Are their floors clear of trailing flexes and wires? To avoid your ageing parent tripping over cords or wires, coil them up or tape them close to the wall. Try to organise their appliances so that they are close to a socket
2. Are their sockets over-loaded? Overloaded sockets can be a fire hazard. If your parent doesn’t have enough sockets, use a bar adapter on a lead, rather thana block adapter. For appliances that use a lot of power, like a fridge or washing machine, never fit more than one plug in each socket
3. Can they walk around their house or flat without having to walk around furniture? Rearranging the furniture can help your elderly relative move around their home more easily and reduces the risk of falling
4. Do they have good lighting? Good lighting is particularly important on the stairs, where it can help prevent trips and falls. Make sure that light bulbs are bright and come on straight away
5. Does your parent have worn out or fraying carpets that they might trip over? Replacing carpets, or using double-sided carpet tape, will help prevent them slipping. Loose rugs and mats can be a serious trip hazard and should be avoided if possible
6. Does your parent use a step ladder to change light bulbs? Step ladders give stability and safety when changing a light bulb, or when reaching for something high up. Your elderly relative should never use a ladder when they are on your own
7. Can they call for help if they fall or feel unsafe? A community alarm lets you contact a 24-hour response centre at the touch of a button. Many councils run community alarm schemes. You can also get a personal alarm system to alert for falls or other concerns
8. Does your parent have an easy-to-read list of emergency phone numbers beside each phone? Make a list for your parent with details of important contacts, such as the doctor, close friends, relatives and anyone else you think may be useful
9. Do they have a carbon-monoxide detector and a smoke alarm? Carbon monoxide is known as a ‘silent killer’ because you can’t see, taste or smell it. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can be similar to cold, flu or food-poisoning symptoms – headache, feeling sick, sore throat and dry cough. Heaters that burn gas, coal, oil or wood can give off carbon monoxide if they are not working properly. Smoke detectors are essential in case of fire, or even as an alert when something has been inadvertently left in the oven in the kitchen. Your ageing parent should have their gas appliances checked annually
10. Do they have a letterbox cage? This can save your elderly relative having to stoop to pick up your post. It can also stop papers being spread across the floor, which could cause them to slip
11. Do their slippers fit properly? Worn out, or badly fitting slippers can increase the risk of tripping and falling. They should be careful when wearing any long, loose-fitting clothing in case they trip on these, particularly when climbing stairs
12. Do they check who is at the door? Make sure they have a chain on the door and that they keep it on when they are at home and use it when callers come. They should ask any callers for  ID and if in doubt, ask them to leave. If they are suspicious of a caller, they should dial 999 and ask for the police

Watch our safety at home tips

Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents