
A resource for those seeking information on organizing and transforming spaces.
Guest Post - Getting Around the House: Senior Safety Essentials
It is estimated that 27% of the senior living community prefer living alone in the US. Well, it is not a bad idea for seniors to live alone nor independently, but all essentials need to be examined to ensure that they live independently but safely. Just like toddlers’ safety, senior safety needs to be made a priority in every home. Here is a definitive list of how you can enforce senior safety in their homes:
It is estimated that 27% of the senior living community prefer living alone in the US. Well, it is not a bad idea for seniors to live alone nor independently, but all essentials need to be examined to ensure that they live independently but safely. Just like toddlers’ safety, senior safety needs to be made a priority in every home. Here is a definitive list of how you can enforce senior safety in their homes:
1. Get Rid of Any Tripping Hazards
Any senior’s health deteriorates as the years go by. More so, their mobility and eyesight are not as excellent as they used to be. It is a regular occurrence and more reason why they need more care.
Any kind of trip can be detrimental to a senior; therefore, you should take this seriously. You don’t have to do a complete home remodel, but you can do these things:
Use non-slip rugs
Declutter the house to ensure free movement
Ensure the floor is in good condition
Avoid Loose Clothing
Emphasize shoe-wearing or wear non-slip shoes
Get rid of loose kept extension cords
2. Ensure Smooth Mobility
As stated earlier, mobility is a significant struggle for seniors. Therefore, you should make the process as seamless as possible. More so, their balance is no longer the same; thus, they need some form of support to help them move freely around the house. If the home has stairs, it is essential to have guard rails along the stairs and the bedside. Also, grab bars will be effective in the bathroom and toilet to help them move around safely.
3. Take Care of The Lighting
With age, seniors don’t need flashy or disturbing lighting in their homes, but eye-friendly kind of lighting. First, you can set up some dim LED lighting across the stairs, dark corners, or underlit areas where seniors move in.
Also, if possible, get more methods to improve natural lighting into the house, especially during the day. For example, you can use reflective mirrors in the room or replace windows with internal blinds. Alternatively, you can use lampshades that have a minimal glare which is also eye-friendly. That way, they will still be able to enjoy fresh air from the comfort of their homes.
4. Make Time for Regular Check-ins
In the everyday rush, it is most likely that most of you are living away from your senior relatives. Isolation makes them more susceptible to cases of depression due to loneliness. As much as they need their space, it’s essential to have someone check up on them severally.
You can ask friends living close to pop in once in a while or enroll them in a senior living community. Here they will have caregivers check in once in a while to ensure they are okay and to notify you of any emergencies or needs that they may have.
5. Setup Emergency Response Systems
With seniors, anything can happen at any time. It can be a fire, a medical alert, or a security threat. Since most of them suffer from dementia, it is easy to forget to do things the usual way as they should.
Setting up an overhaul emergency system can be expensive, but you can do this step by step. Take care of the basics as you implement the more complicated emergency measures as required. Here are things you can do:
Have a speed dial contact number
Setup a home alarm system
Set up indoor and outdoor security cameras
Set up smoke detectors
Buy a GPS enabled medical alert call system
6. Teach Them Basic Security Measures
Besides relying on automated security measures, seniors can also protect themselves with simple security measures. Here are some basic things that they can do:
Not to open the door to strangers
Not to share their whereabouts or financial information with people easily
Keeping all entryways locked
This to-do list may seem overwhelming, but you don’t have to do them all at once. If you ensure your seniors are safe back at home, you will also have peace of mind wherever you are. Senior safety is a priority, and you should not underestimate its essence.
About the Author
Jennifer Bell is a freelance writer, home designer, blogger, dog-enthusiast, and avid beachgoer operating out of Southern New Jersey.
Expensive Hazards Around Your Home and What You Can Do About Them
All homeowners have maintenance that they need to take care of on occasion. However, some of these problems can actually become safety hazards, so they need to be taken care of right away. Here are some expensive hazards that can occur in your home as well as some ways that you can fix them.
All homeowners have maintenance that they need to take care of on occasion. However, some of these problems can actually become safety hazards, so they need to be taken care of right away. Here are some expensive hazards that can occur in your home as well as some ways that you can fix them.
Loose Flooring
Your flooring isn't meant to last forever. After a certain amount of time, you may notice that it no longer adheres to the floor as it once did. This can lead to you and your family members tripping or falling over loose floorboards, torn carpeting, or curling linoleum. If you do notice that your flooring is loose, try not to walk on it until you are able to get it replaced. Some homeowners try to tackle this project themselves, but it's best to leave it up to the professionals in order to make sure that it's done properly.
Dying Trees
Trees can start to die and rot because of things like harsh weather conditions or pests eating away at them. The tree's branches can become an expensive hazard as they can fall on your home if not taken care of. If you notice that you have a tree that's starting to rot, contact a tree removal service, like Pete & Ron's Tree Service, Inc., so that they can remove this tree from your yard for you.
Water Leaks
Many homeowners may have a water leak behind one of their walls that they aren't even aware of. Fortunately, there are some signs you can keep an eye out for that tell you this is occurring. If you notice that there's a water spot or peeling paint on one part of the wall, or if the wall is wet or feels soft, you may have a water leak. You can fix this by having a plumber come out to repair it for you. Don't put off having this fixed as it can turn into a catastrophic situation fairly quickly.
Broken Windows
A window can break for a variety of different reasons from kids playing in the yard to a burglar seeking entrance or a storm with high winds. Once a window is broken, though, it can put you and your family at risk. Fortunately, windows usually aren't that expensive, and a professional may be able to replace it in as little as a few hours.
While expensive hazards aren't something that any homeowner wants to deal with, they tend to be unavoidable. As you can see, you may encounter all sorts of expensive hazards in your home, but they can all be fixed. In order to keep the damage and costs to a minimum, you do need to take care of them quickly. This will ensure that you don't inadvertently put your family in harm's way.
8 Hidden Health Hazards Lurking in Your Home
Home is often associated with comfort and rest. It is a place where we get to unwind and feel safe. However, making your home a safe environment for everyone requires some work. There are hidden hazards that may cause harm to your family, and these need to be assessed and addressed.
Safety should be the utmost priority, and it requires some work on your side. Fortunately, many of these are easy to manage and are fixable.
Home is often associated with comfort and rest. It is a place where we get to unwind and feel safe. However, making your home a safe environment for everyone requires some work. There are hidden hazards that may cause harm to your family, and these need to be assessed and addressed.
Safety should be the utmost priority, and it requires some work on your side. Fortunately, many of these are easy to manage and are fixable.
Radon
It is a radioactive gas that naturally occurs thorium, uranium, or radium breaks down in soil or groundwater. We are exposed to it, but this becomes a hazard when the gas enters into cracks or holes in your home, and you are inhaling a high level of radon.
This gas increases the risk of lung cancer when exposed for an extended period. You may not notice its presence because it is odorless and colorless. This can be avoided by checking the level of radon through a testing kit. Improving ventilation can reduce the amount of radon indoors, but you’ll need professional help to eliminate it.
Asbestos
Another natural fiber, asbestos, is commonly found in construction materials, textiles, and insulation. It is durable and can withstand high temperatures. In general, asbestos is safe to use. However, it becomes a health hazard when the asbestos-containing material crumbles or is friable.
When the asbestos material is in a poor state, a simple movement releases dust particles into the air. When handled poorly, you might inhale the dust particles and damage your lungs. These particles can stay in the air for a while.
You need to get rid of asbestos fast because there are common diseases associated with asbestos inhalation, such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.
Molds
If you notice a musty odor around the house, there might be mold growth in the area. Excess moisture promotes the growth of molds, which might indicate water leaks in the house.
Mold is a type of fungus that can irritate the nose, throat, and lungs. Its presence in the house can trigger respiratory problems, especially those suffering from asthma and allergies. Infants, the elderly, and people who are immunocompromised are susceptible.
You can check for molds in the kitchen, under the sink, in your shower curtains, or basement. Mold in small amounts is harmless, but the spores being released in the air can harm everyone in the house when it is significant.
You can control the growth of mold in the house by getting a dehumidifier in damp areas, keeping every area clean and dry, fixing any leakage and improving ventilation, controlling humidity, and making sure the house is warm during the cold season by adding insulation or heater.
Carbon Monoxide
If you have kerosene heaters, gas stoves, a fireplace, wood stoves, or any gas equipment at home, you need to be careful with carbon monoxide poisoning. The gas is odorless and colorless making it dangerous because you wouldn’t notice you’re being exposed to it.
Homes with poor ventilation are at high risk for carbon monoxide poisoning—headaches, weakness, dizziness, vomiting, and chest pain. If you inhale a large amount of these toxic fumes, you can pass out. Those who are sleeping or drunk can die of carbon monoxide poisoning without them even noticing it.
If you have equipment that uses gas, make sure to have proper ventilation. Install CO detector, purchase equipment certified by the appropriate agency, and hire licensed technicians to do yearly maintenance on your gas equipment.
Lint
Removing lint from your dryer can keep your home safe. There are many benefits in keeping your dryer clean, like reducing electricity consumption, drying the clothes faster, and most importantly, preventing fire risk.
Lint is flammable, and the dryer produces heat which can create potential fire. Aside from fire, it also promotes mold and mildew growth because it can increase humidity around the vent. Clean the lint trap after every load. For hard to remove lint, soak the lint trap in hot water and brush gently.
Dust mites
Your furniture, carpet, and bed can harbor dust mites. These hard to see, microscopic creatures love dead skin cells and hair. The bug is a potential allergen and can trigger the immune system to react. Those with asthma and sensitivity to insect bites are prone to dust mites. Those who are allergic will experience a runny nose, watery eyes, and difficulty breathing.
Lead
If you are living in an old home, you might want to check for the presence of lead. There might be a chance that the lead is hiding behind a few coats on your wall. Children are at the most at risk for lead poisoning and this can lead to severe complications.
Lead poisoning signs are developmental delay, irritability, loss of appetite, hearing loss, seizures, abdominal pain, and vomiting. You can get a lead testing kit to make sure your home is safe.
Household cleaners
A prevalent health risk at home is household cleaners. When poorly stored and used, it can irritate the eyes, mouth, and nose. Others are volatile chemicals that can cause serious health problems, such as bleach and ammonia.
Store these chemicals safely away from the children, read and follow instructions, avoid mixing chemicals and reduce the use of harmful chemicals by substituting them with natural ingredients.
Be proactive when ensuring the safety of your home. Follow guidelines and research for information that can help keep your home free from health hazards.
Guest Post - DIY Projects to Improve the Safety of Your Home
There are many reasons to take on a home improvement project. Some are serious, like adding on a room or remodeling an old home. Others are fun, like renovating a space to update its ambiance and appeal.
Some of the most important kinds of improvements are those that increase your home’s safety. Here are a few different projects that address the safety of your dwelling from several different perspectives.
There are many reasons to take on a home improvement project. Some are serious, like adding on a room or remodeling an old home. Others are fun, like renovating a space to update its ambiance and appeal.
Some of the most important kinds of improvements are those that increase your home’s safety. Here are a few different projects that address the safety of your dwelling from several different perspectives.
Review Basic Safety Hazards
If you want to ensure that your living space is a safe place for you and your loved ones, it’s wise to start with several basic considerations. A few common safety hazards that can be addressed with quick DIY fixes include:
Trip and fall prevention: You can do this by installing handrails on stairs, adding guard rails on a porch, replacing slippery flooring, or even swapping out a steep step with two smaller stairs.
Adding storage: Storage, especially high and out of reach options, provides an ideal place to keep chemicals, medicine, and dangerous equipment out of reach of children. It can also help you avoid further trip and fall accidents by keeping items out of pathways.
Install alarms: Fire alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and even flood alarms are all important to have properly installed throughout your home. If you don’t have them yet, schedule a time to install them.
Before you start looking for nuanced projects to work on, make sure basic safety considerations like these have been tended to.
Protect Your Home and Equipment
Safety doesn’t always revolve around things like physical accidents or fires and floods. At times they’re very human in nature. With that in mind, it’s also important to ensure that your property is properly protected from two kinds of theft.
First, review your home’s locks and safety features. You may even want to consider installing a smart home system to help deter potential theft. In addition, review your home insurance policy to see if you’re properly protected from everything from break-ins to natural disasters.
Second, consider all of the electronics in your home network. Cybersecurity is a serious concern these days. Make sure everything is up to date, password-protected, and has anti-malware and anti-virus software, too.
Consider Your Electricity
One DIY project worth consideration is conducting a review of your electrical situation. While most serious electrical jobs should be done by a certified electrician, there are many ways that you can look over your home’s electricity usage to make sure basic safety precautions are being made.
Take some time to go through your home and look for easy DIY fixes. For example, you can:
Make sure appliances have plenty of room for air circulation.
Check to see that outlets are properly protected with covers.
Unplug unused appliances to reduce potential hazards.
Check that exhaust fans are clean to prevent the risk of overheating.
Replace damaged electrical cords and appliances.
Electricity is critical to a functioning modern home. However, it also poses many risks. Reviewing your electricity setup is a great DIY project to regularly schedule into the calendar every few months.
Not-DIY Projects to Avoid
While there are many safety projects that are perfectly doable on your own, others should be left to a professional. They may cost more, but if your goal is to be safer, you want to make sure everything is done correctly.
For instance, if you’re trying to remove harmful substances like radon, asbestos, or mold, you may want to get a professional. Bigger projects like sanding down floors or repairing a leaky roof should also be kept off of the DIY list, and left in the hands of a professional.
Creating a Safer Home Environment
There are many factors that go into a safe home environment. Everything from removing trip and fall threats to addressing electrical, flood, and fire hazards to setting up physical- and cyber-security measures should be taken into consideration.
While there are some projects that are better left to a professional, many safety-focused home improvement activities are easy to do yourself. So review the suggestions above and consider where your home is lacking. Then make plans to start fixing things as soon as you can to create as safe a home environment as possible for you and your family.
Author Bio: Noah Rue is a freelance writer.