Providing Safe Home Access for Seniors

ACCESSING THE HOME

For any senior that has mobility issues
that require assistance entering
the home, ramps are a key product
consideration. Simply put, ramps make
safe home access possible and are a key
category providers serving seniors.

In many cases, this could only involve
a simple threshold ramp, but in others
cases, such as when the door is raised
off the ground, this could mean a ramp
installation. Where ramp installations
are concerned, there must be a foot of
ramp for every inch of rise between the
ground and the 5-foot-by-5-foot platform
that is placed in front of the entryway
the platform provides a level spot for the
patient to open and close the door. That
said, the landscape where the ramp will
go needs to be assessed as well. If the
ground slopes away from the house, then
the ramp will actually need to be longer.

Installing ramps can represent an
intimidating learning curve. If a provider
doesn’t want to invest in all the tools and
equipment and construction knowledge
they should consider partnering with a
local handyman or construction company
that is already doing accessibility work.
Look for a company with staff assets,
tools truck, license and knowledge,
and then the provider can play to its
strengths in terms of understanding the
senior’s access needs.

THE BATHROOM

More than 80 percent of home accidents
occur in the bathroom, according to the
National Safety Council. Fortunately,
bath safety products don’t have to cost
a lot to make big differences for aging in
place customers. For starters, grab bars
are critical. They should be strategically
located in and around the bathing area,
as well as around the toilet. This has two
benefits: it ensures that the patient is
supported and kept safe from a fall, but
it also helps the patient gently lower and
raise himself or herself while bathing or
using the toilet. In terms of the toilet,
ideally the patient would use a raised
toilet so that he or she does not have
far to travel when rising or lowering.
Commode lifts are another option in this
case.

For the bathing area, the ideal
situation would be to have a bathing
stool or bench that the senior can use
in conjunction with a handheld shower
to protect against falls. Along with the
aforementioned grab bars, the shower
floor should be lined with non-slip
material or strips. In general it also is a
good idea to avoid having bathmats or
other items on the floor that could cause
a fall. Also, another bathing option could
be a bath lift, which raises and lowers the
client into the tub.

Also, ensure that the bathroom is
brightly lit and that there is a bright
enough night light to help the patient
negotiate the bathroom at night, when
poor vision could otherwise contribute to
a fall. If possible, situate a chair or stool
in the bathroom that the senior can use
while grooming themselves or applying
makeup, and ensure there are nearby
grab bars, as well. Lights and stools are
simple, non-DME products providers
can stock that pay major bath safety
dividends.