Providers of veteran home care services know full well how important it is for their elderly adults to live in a safe and healthy home. The home should have a good design, so that mobility throughout the home is not hampered by tripping hazards or tight corners. The home also offers the veteran senior a sense of calm and security. Often, they have already lived there for quite some time.
For the elderly adult who has chosen to live out his or her life at home, the home itself makes a big impact on how he or she feels; their mood, their confidence and their happiness. What are some of the aspects of a safe home?
- Are all electrical cords and telephone cords out of the walkways?
- Have all the rugs been removed, attached with nonskid pads or stuck down with double-sided tape?
- Do all stairs and staircases have adequate and sturdy railings for grabbing onto?
- All stairs should be illuminated and have light switches at both the top and the bottom of the staircase.
- Is there a lamp or flashlight within reach of her bed to use for night trips to the toilet?
- Has the bathroom been updated with a walk-in tub, shower chair, grab bars and shatter-proof doors or curtain?
- Are there night-lights placed strategically to illuminate dark hallways at night?
- Are items easy for her to reach in her closet or cupboards? (You don’t want her reaching for a stepping stool)
- Analyze the furniture arrangement – does it eliminate tripping hazards? Does it allow for wide paths to walk in between pieces of furniture?
- Are all smoke detectors installed, have fresh batteries and all up to date? They should be tested twice yearly.
- Does he or she need a rail to help her get into and out of bed?
- Are the doorknobs replaced with easier to manage door levers that push down?
- Is the home neat and tidy, carpets kept clean and floors kept uncluttered?
Safety, security, cleanliness and ambiance of the home all have an effect on how the elderly veteran feels from day to day – especially when many elderly people no longer get out of the house as often as they used to. A pleasant, comforting home goes a long way to alleviating the pain or discomforts of age-related immobility or illness. It feels to her like a safe haven that he or she is very happy to abide in.
For more information on the VA Aid and Attendance Pension Benefit that helps senior veterans pay for in-home care services, or if you have a general question about VA Home Care, please don’t hesitate to call Veterans Home Care at 888-314-6075
