One of the biggest concerns we hear from family caregivers of loved ones living at home with dementia is safety. Even in a home a parent has lived in for years, adult children will worry about the potential for a stove burner to be left on or a foot to catch the edge of a carpet.
Individuals with dementia are even more vulnerable to these kinds of safety hazards. In addition to the normal issues surrounding aging, they are dealing with significant cognitive and physical impairment, both of which will steadily become more pronounced.
If you are a family caregiver for a loved one who has been diagnosed with dementia, you will want to look into resources to help keep your loved one safe. As the disease progresses, that may involve reaching out to a memory care community which has been designed specifically to provide a safe and healthy environment for individuals with dementia.
In the meantime, however, you need to be vigilant in removing as many safety hazards as possible for your loved one. Here are five areas to focus on:
More safety tips and advice can be found on the Alzheimer’s Association website. You can download their safety checklist here.
Remember that, in addition to taking the above precautions, it is important to make sure your loved one is not left alone for long periods of time. As their cognitive abilities become more impaired, the potential for accidents will continue to increase.
We welcome you to reach out to an Anthem community near you. Consider us an added resource as your caregiver journey continues. Come visit us anytime. We understand how challenging this period of your life is and are always here to help.