When caring for an individual suffering from Alzheimer's, it's important to make sure they're in a safe and supportive environment where their needs are met and the chance of injury is low. Creating a home that meets their needs will not only make their lives easier, but yours as well.
People with Alzheimer's often engage in wandering behavior so limit their access to the outdoors and dangerous areas inside the home. Cover doors and locks with cloth or paint to disguise them and install deadbolts high or low on exterior doors to make it difficult for your loved one to wander outside. Remove locks in bathrooms and bedrooms to ensure that he or she does not lock themselve16A6s inside where you have no access to them. To protect your loved one from dangerous appliances and household cleaners, install child-proof locks and door knob covers.
As Alzheimer's progresses, vision changes and patients may not be able to distinguish colors or be able to understand what they are seeing. To ensure the maximum amount of visibility for your loved one, diffuse glare and bright lights by removing any mirrors or furniture with glass tops from the home. Put shades or blinds on the windows and add extra lighting to entryways, stairways, bathrooms and hallways. At night, place nightlights throughout the home to ensure they can see if they need to get up and use the bathroom.
Daily activities that were once familiar may become more difficult for your loved one to do safely. Keep an eye on the temperature of his or her food and drink because they may not be able to distinguish the difference themselves. Install walk-in showers and grab bars in the bathroom to allow them to move around safely and independently. If you have rugs resting on wooden, linoleum or tiled floors, make sure they're kept in place with adhesive to prevent falls.
Because a person with Alzheimer's may not always be able to tell the difference between fresh and rotten food, clean out your refrigerator on a regular basis so they don't eat something that will make them sick. Remove the knobs from your kitchen stove burners to prevent fires and eliminate all electrical appliances from your bathroom to reduce the risk of electrical shock. Though these precautions may seem unnecessary and extreme, keep in mind that an individual with Alzheimer's can forget why certain things shouldn't be done and what is considered dangerous.
Brian Willie is an Elder Law Attorney in California and Texas, and is a frequent author and speaker on the topic. He is the founder of the Alzheimer's Legal Resource Center. For more information visit: http://www.alrconline.com or http://www.alrconline.blogspot.com
Rainbow Remodeling
No comments:
Post a Comment