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Savvy Senior
Last year my husband, who’s in his mid-70’s, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. He’s still doing pretty well but I want to be prepared for the inevitable. Do you have any suggestions or tips on how I can make our house Alzheimer’s safe? I would like for him to remain at home with me as long as possible, but I feel like I need to make some adjustments now before it’s too late. Concerned Caregiver. Dear Concerned, Caring for a person with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a tough job that requires lots of patience and creativity. One of the things that makes AD so difficult for caregivers is that it’s unpredictable. You never know what a person with Alzheimer’s might do. Behaviors can range from wandering, to rummaging and hiding things, to having hallucinations and impaired senses. Here are some things to consider to help make your home safer as your husband’s AD progresses. Prevention It’s estimated that around 4.5 million Americans suffer from AD, and over 70 percent of them live at home. Since it’s very difficult to predict what a person with AD might do, plan for everything. By minimizing danger, you can maximize his independence. But, keep in mind that even with the best of plans, accidents happen. Here are some tips to consider to help make your home a safer place. General Safety Tips • Keep all medications, alcohol, cleaning products, matches, power tools, sharp objects, small appliances, knickknacks or guns locked up. • Install smoke alarms. • Check all rooms for adequate lighting. Poor lighting can create confusing shadows or difficulty interpreting everyday items. • Cover unused electrical outlets with childproof plugs. • Avoid clutter. It can create confusion. • Remove throw rugs and avoid the use of extension cords. • Install childproof safety latches on kitchen and bathroom cabinets and drawers and possibly the refrigerator. • Adjust hot water heater to 120 degrees to avoid scalding. • Remove knobs from the stove or install an automatic shut-off switch to prevent a fire. • Consider turning off or disconnecting your garbage disposal. People with AD may place ob-jects or their own hands in disposal. • Use nightlights throughout the house. • Move the bed against the wall or put the mattress on the floor for added safety and do away with heating pads and electric blankets. • Remove locks from the bathroom and/or bedroom doors to prevent your husband from getting locked in. • Hide a spare house key outside in case you get locked out. Wandering Tips • Install locks that require a key on all outside doors and inside rooms you deem unsafe. • Install locks or safety devices on windows that limit the distance the window can be opened. • If possible, secure your yard with fencing and a locked gate. • Use door alarm devices that ring when the door is opened, or place STOP or DO NOT ENTER signs on doors of concern. Rummaging and Hiding • Remove significant items that could be hidden like jewelry, credit cards or your check book. • Lock unused rooms to limit the opportunity to rummage or hide things. • Safety problems often occur when the person with AD becomes bored. Create a special place for sorting or rummaging as a chest of drawers or a basket of clothes to fold and unfold. Hallucinations • Paint walls a light solid color. Patterns and designs can create confusion. • Remove or cover mirrors if they cause fear or confusion Savvy Resource The Alzheimer’s Association provides a toll-free 24-hour contact center for information, assistance, care consultation and referrals. Call 800-272-3900 or visit www.alz.org. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit wwwsavvysenionorg.
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