Keep Older House Guests Safe

Got older visitors coming for a visit? Consider "parent proofing" your home.

Hazards can range from odd steps to poorly lit hallways, to kids' and pets' toys left out and exposed electric cords.

Seniors are particularly vulnerable to such hazards thanks to problems with vision and balance that develop in aging, to the brittle bones that can also make fractures in their age group more likely.

"It's not that seniors are the only guests who are ever going to trip and fall," says John Crowe, a Connecticut orthopedist. "It's that a fall for them can end up breaking bones. You might fall the same way, get up and be fine."

Breaking a major bone such as a hip can be devastating for some seniors, doctors say. Add an underlying medical condition that impairs balance or is a chronic health issue, and things will be even more complicated.

"If the person needed a cane before, they may end up needing a walker. If they needed a walker, they can end up in a wheelchair," Crowe says.

To keep your home safe, precautionary housekeeping can include assigning older guests to first-floor bedrooms or rooms with master baths.

Crowe offers these suggestions for parent-proofing your home:

Tripping hazards: Check rugs and consider removing throw rugs if they are not secure. Be aware of crowded pathways that could be made safer by removing a chair or other object. Make sure children's toys, clothes or shoes are picked up.

Bathrooms: This common place for accidents needs a shower or bath that is not slippery. Put nonslip rubber mats or treads in place. Rugs should be secure or removed. If you have frequent elderly visitors, consider installing a grab bar inside the bath and shower to make getting in and out safer.

Lighting: Look objectively at your home lighting, especially hallways and stairs. Guests with poor vision have a harder time seeing without good light. Leave a flashlight on the bedside table for night use. Be sure all lamp cords are safely out of the way.

Pets: Keep pets from jumping on guests. Even a small dog may cause an older person to lose balance. Consider calling the dog or cat out of the way if your guest is walking near them. Sudden movements of a pet can cause a person with physical limitations to become unbalanced. Also, make sure animal toys and beds are out of the way. A soft toy or bedding can be difficult to step over.

Stamford (Conn.) Advocate