Checklist for Elderly Living Alone: Protect Your Peace

Aging in place is when an older adult decides to live their golden years in their home. They don’t move to assisted living communities but remain in their neighborhoods.

A 2022 University of Michigan poll reported that 88% of adults aged 50 to 80 prefer to stay in their homes. The same poll showed that only 34% of this age group had the necessary features to allow aging in place.

You may be among those who’d prefer to stay at home for as long as possible but aren’t sure what that would require.

Our checklist for the elderly living alone can help. Read on to learn helpful living alone safety tips.

A Helpful Checklist for Elderly Living Alone

Nearly 39,000 older adults died due to a fall in 2021. Preventing falls is imperative, but many have found that their homes aren’t as fall-proof as they think. Cleaning and decluttering is an effective and simple solution.

Walkways should be clear of obstacles in the immediate path and surrounding it. You don’t want to trip over something on the floor or have your vision obstructed by something in your way.

Cleaning the areas around walking paths keeps items from falling over. You should be able to see from wall to wall in each room from anywhere in that space. Nothing should block your path from any vantage point.

Clutter isn’t the only thing that can cause a nasty fall. Other trip hazards include:

• Cords and cables
  • Choose long cords and cables and run them up the walls
• Throw rugs and loose carpet
  • Ideally, you wouldn’t have throw rugs
  • If you do, secure them with non-skid backing
  • Have old, loose carpet repaired or removed
• Small pets
  • Keep pets’ bowls, toys, and other supplies in designated areas
  • Consider attaching a bell to their collars
    • Small pets are hard to see from a standing height
    • A bell will ensure you hear and are aware of them
• Footwear
  • Avoid flip flops, slippery soles, or high heels to prevent tripping

Entryways

Safe entryways are vital to senior safety. Installing better, brighter lighting makes using the entries easier. Don’t tackle electrical work if you’re unsure what to do; hire an electrician.

If you use mobility aids like walkers or wheelchairs, consider widening your entryways. Wider entries make it easier to move through the home.

Adding grab bars near doors offers added support when near an entry. You may want to consider doors with lever handles, as they’re less difficult to open and lock.

Living Room

Next on our senior home checklist is the living room, where you probably spend plenty of time relaxing. The best way to keep your living room safe is to keep it clutter-free.

We’ve mostly already discussed how to keep your living room safe, route cables up walls, and secure throw rugs (if you decide to keep them). Other elderly safety tips for the living room include:

• Furniture with rounded corners
  • To avoid injury if you bump into it
• Remote-controlled lighting and temperature control
  • To make turning on/off lights and heating/cooling easier
• Grab bars and transfer poles
  • These should be strategically placed
  • For example, place a grab bar by the entry into your living room

Kitchen

Most kitchen safety measures involve increasing vision and preventing fires or carbon monoxide poisoning. Brighter, strategically placed lights help avoid accidents and mishaps.

Lights should be under range hoods and cabinets. Putting lights inside cabinets and pantries makes finding things easier.

Smoke and carbon monoxide monitors will help alert you to any hazards. Detectors with audio or visual alarms will better aid those with visual or hearing challenges.

Here are other methods to prevent accidents in the kitchen:

• Install non-slip coverings on the floor
• Keep counters clutter-free
• Use plastic serving items instead of glass
• Use rubberized cutting boards and cut-resistant gloves
• Keep kitchen vents well-maintained and clean

Bathroom

The bathroom is the most likely place for a fall because of all the hard, slippery surfaces. Investing in a walk-in tub or shower goes a long way toward ensuring safe senior living.

You should still have non-slip flooring or mats in the tub and shower. Non-slip floors are a must. Additional safety features include:

• Grab bars near the tub, shower, and toilet
• Non-slip shower seats
• Bright overhead lighting and motion sensor lights for nighttime
• Raised toilet seat to prevent falls
• Safe water heater temperature

Bedroom

Again, keeping the bedroom clutter-free does plenty to ensure safety. However, there should be a heavier focus on technology in these areas due to many seniors’ medical and monitoring requirements.

Smartphones, medical, and monitoring devices should be near the bed in case of an emergency. Set up a charging station next to your bed for your devices. Other safety measures are as follows:

• Install a bed rail for support getting in and out of bed
• Have emergency numbers next to the bed and phone
• Have nightlights or motion sensor lights
• Have non-slip backing for throw rugs and secured carpeting

Exterior

Your outdoor space is as much a part of your assisted senior living experience as the inside. You’ve got to ensure you can enjoy it safely. Repair or replace uneven or cracked driveways and paving.

Use slip-resistant pavers to prevent accidents while outdoors. Walkways and generally dark corners should be well-lit for nighttime safety and security. Consider using motion-activated lighting.

Add sturdy hand railings to all outdoor stairs and ramps to ensure these are also smooth and slip-resistant. Make sure you check that all doors and windows have functioning locks.

Encouraging Safe Senior Living

Hopefully, our checklist for the elderly living alone can help you on your home modification journey. We’re giving you these elderly safety tips so you can age in place as comfortably as possible.

That said, independence doesn’t have to mean staying in your home. TerraBella Roswell is an alternative to safety-proofing your house.

Our community covers elderly care essentials like escort and transfer assistance and medication management.

TerraBella Roswell enriches residents’ lives with various services and activities like live entertainment and exercise classes. Contact us to schedule a tour or to answer any questions.