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SAFE AT HOME

Tips to keep someone with dementia Safe at Home – Part 3

This edition will give some tips for keeping your loved one safe at home in their living area.

Remove throw rugs. Even those with skid prevention backing should be removed as backing wears out and even new backing is not completely without risk.
Be sure there are no electrical cords in areas that are used for ambulating (walking).
Never leave an open fire in the home of this loved one. You should consider making the fireplace unable to be used by either closing it in or blocking it.
Be sure glass doors and panels have some type of decal at eye level to identify it as glass and not an open area.
Remove tables with glass table tops.
Remove matches, lighters and candles from the home.
Keep all remote controls out of sight.
Analyze the spaces between furnishings for ability to ambulate safely without worry about bumping into items. This is a certainly a tip to prevent falls and allow the person to move about more freely, but it also will help prevent skin tears and bruising.
If the home is more than one level, block off stairways if possible.

A few tips for the laundry room as well!

Lock, if possible, the door to the laundry room.
Keep all laundry supplies out of sight in a cabinet.
If the person is apt to tamper with the washer and/or dryer, remove the knobs or place knob blocks behind the knobs.
Place latches on the washer and dryer doors to keep items from being placed inside the machines.