Caring for Elderly Parents | Home Safety Tips for Seniors

As a firefighter I have been called to aging parents homes dozens of times. From forgotten cooking fires, to slips, to simple concern from children.

As our parents age it is difficult to know how to help them. It can be hard to know if they should move in, or if they can safely age in place.

The challenge is not just logistical. It is a huge responsibility and decision you have to make, and many people struggle with the emotional weight of it all.

The first thing to do is identify whether or not your parents need a big life change like moving in/out or not.

5 Signs Your Elderly Parent Needs Help

1. They ask for help every day 

The easiest way to know they need help is if they recognize they need help and ask for it frequently.

2. They have a hard time completing every day tasks safely

This can be anything from driving challenges, to falls

3. They are often having accidents

Again slips and falls can point to a need for additional support

4. They are forgetful to the point of concern

Forgetting is part of aging. But if they forget where they live or their family that can be a big safety risk

5. They need consistent medical support

If you, your family, or medical professionals are helping them weekly, it might be a sign they need further assistance.

There are certainly more signs that your parent(s) need more help. Use your best judgement and consult with your family and parents about the right decision for everybody.

How to talk to aging parents about accepting help

This conversation can be difficult, both for you and your parents. The most important thing is to just be open and honest with your loved ones. 

If your parents resist the idea or become antagonistic, stay calm. Don’t accuse them of any wrong doings, simply share your experiences and reasoning.

This is an emotional decision, allow your parents the time to react emotionally. They may just need time to calm down before they are able make a reasonable decision. 

Dealing with aging parents is hard. It is also helpful to allow yourself time to truly process how you feel about the situation. Take your time, it’s okay to be sad or overwhelmed.

I’m not a therapist, but I have seen my fair share of concerned children try too hard to get their parents help without talking to them first.

From what I've seen it always works best when children just communicated their thoughts and experiences.

Home Safety Tips for Seniors

For some, you may realize it is time to move your parents into a care facility.

For others, it might be time for your parents to move in with you or make their home safer.

If you feel like improved safety in either home is the right option, let’s talk about it.

Senior Home Safety Assessment

Information is critical when it comes to safety. Every home is different, and every elderly parent struggles with unique challenges.

Follow this simple home safety checklist to identify how you can best keep your parents safe.

• Do your parents cook at home every day?
• Which appliances do your parents use to cook?
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Stove
  • Other
• Is the shower in a tub or a walk in shower/tub?
• Does the shower/tub have anti-slip mats?
• Does the shower/tub have grab bars?
• Do your parents know how to use a smart phone?
• Do you have any way to detect if your parents fall?
• Can your parents clean their home adequately?
• Can your parents hear important notifications
  • Phone calls
  • Knock at door/doorbell
  • Smoke alarm
• Is memory a concern?
• Do you have any way to locate your parents if needed?
• Do your parents need to take medication daily?
• Can your parents get into bed easily?

Now you’ve identified the areas your parents need additional support. 

Now let’s use that information to help your aging parents stay in their home. 

Improved safety and increased independence is the goal.

5 Safety Tips for Seniors Living Alone

1. Install safety devices before they are needed

The last thing you want is your parents needing support getting out of the shower and not having it. If you are going to install any products or devices, do it before they are absolutely necessary.

2. Increase organization to simplify every day routines

The simpler you can make your parents home, the safer it is. If their home is organized it makes routines like laundry, cooking, or bathing safer because a clean home is always safer than a messy one.

3. Improve/simplify communication methods

If your parents can’t use their phone, smart watch, etc… they won’t. Improve their communication methods so they can contact who they need, when they need them.

4. Communicate with their neighbors

If you aren’t living with your parents, the closest help they have is the neighbors. Meet the neighbors and ask them for help with keeping an eye on them. More eyes watching their situation is a good thing.

5. Perform regular safety checks on their home

Check things like smoke detector batteries, where they place/store items, how clean their home is, etc... You can see if the safety measures you’ve implemented are working and helping. 

Often times you won’t recognize a risk the first time you scan their home, so make these checks a regular habit

The solutions for home safety vary from situation to situation. So far I’ve just shared how you can identify and simply solve many risks in seniors homes.

Let’s talk about specific home safety solutions and product options for elderly parents

Bathroom Safety for Elderly Parents

As a firefighter and paramedic I can tell you the most common risk for aging parents is slips, trips, and falls.

The most common room for these incidents is the bathroom. That is exactly why bathroom safety for your aging parents is incredibly important.

In the previous assessment, we focused on risk factors in the bathroom, specifically the bath/shower.

Bath Safety Devices for Seniors

One of the simplest solutions for slips in the tub or shower is anti-slip mats.

You can find these at your local supermarket or online for around $20-$40.

The Gorilla Grip mat has great reviews online, but any rubber mat that sticks to the bath or shower floor will do great.

Another great option for elderly bath safety is called the Step2Tub. It is a step stool that helps seniors get in and out of the tub with more stability, reducing the chance for a fall.

You can get these online for $129. I've worked with The Alzheimer’s Store and 100% recommend getting it from them if you plan on purchasing one.

Another important product for senior safety in either showers or baths are grab bars. Grab bars range in price, but the cost really comes in installation.

The last solution I would recommend is a shower chair. They come in different setups, from installed similar to grab bars, or just sitting in the shower.

Kitchen & Fire Safety for Seniors

General kitchen safety is much the same as fire safety. The biggest hazard in the kitchen is the risk for a fire, but there are other risks to consider.

Kitchen Safety for Seniors

Consider doing a kitchen safety audit to determine which parts of the kitchen are most likely to cause an accident.

Common things to look for are:

• Which appliances they use most?
• Do they prepare their meals at home (cut, cook, clean, etc…)
• Is the kitchen organized?
• Can they reach everything they will use?

Keeping seniors safe in the kitchen requires planning. If you identify a risk, remove it or simplify the process.

For example, if they use the microwave the most, consider placing it in an accessible location. Also choose a microwave with simple controls to prevent them from cooking for an extended period and forgetting about it.

Another example is if they prepare all of their meals at home. If they cut vegetables, consider a cutting gadget instead of using a knife. Make sure they can easily load the dishwasher.

Small changes like that make a massive difference in allowing your parents more independence for longer.

With aging comes increased risk for starting fires because forgotten cooking is the #1 cause of home fires.

Fire Safety Tips for Elderly 

• Help your aging parents stay in the kitchen while cooking
• Teach them how to use fire extinguishers
• Check smoke alarms every 6 months
• A tidy home is a safer home
• Opt for smarter heat sources, not space heaters
• Teach them how to properly use all cooking appliances

Every action you take to reduce your aging parents' fire risk is a step in the right direction. After following these tips you may still be wondering “Can I prevent kitchen fires in my parents home?”

How to Prevent Kitchen Fires

General fire safety and fire prevention are similar, but not the same.

Prevention requires you to remove the fire risk before it ever occurs.

Many children of aging parents are concerned about their parents cooking habits so they remove access to appliances. Some unplug the stove or microwave to keep their parents safe.

Alternatively you can install a simple Auto Shutoff device. 

Check out options for Electric or Gas stoves or even for smaller appliances.

An Auto Shutoff device detects the signs of a kitchen fire before it ignites and automatically turns off the heat source, the stove.

Across the United States, these devices prevent around 250 kitchen fires a month. It is the number one option for kitchen fire prevention available.

A Firefighting Story: Kitchen Fire Risks

I remember one time we got called out to a kitchen fire when I was a full-time firefighter. The apartment was full of smoke, but there wasn’t actually any flames. 

I remember we pushed inside the unit and there was a pot of beans on the stove and a woman passed out on the floor. I honestly don’t know how we didn’t step on her, but we got her out and got her medical attention.

She had forgotten a pot on the stove and by the time she woke up from her nap the smoke was so bad she fainted on her way to remove the pot.

If it wasn’t for a neighbor who called us things could have been much worse, and there wasn’t even flames in the house yet.

Ever since that day I knew I had to try and stop these from happening to keep families safe, and that was really when FireAvert was born.

The Importance of Home Safety for Elderly

Since my time as a firefighter I’ve become very concerned with giving peace of mind to people. I think knowing that your family is safe is one the best ways to give peace of mind.

Hopefully you can better make a decision to help your aging parents. I know following these steps will keep them safer in the riskiest places, the bathroom and kitchen. 

The fire safety tips I shared are all from my expertise as a firefighter and now CEO of a fire prevention company. Following them will help you rest easier knowing your aging parents are protected.