Many seniors will wish to stay home while they ageand that’s made possible by the help of an in-home caregiver service. Making the decision to stay in the comfort of home while aging is a decision that is great for the entire family. However, even though a caregiver may provide ease of mind and additional help, elderly safety may still be an issue family of an aging senior is still concerned with. While the home is where you’re provided safety and security, there may still be a few hazards that could cause issues for an aging individual. So, to reduce the risk of accidents, there are a few things that family and loved ones of aging individuals can do to make a house safer for elderly to live in. One of these things is to ensure that there is enough lighting to go about daily activities in the home!
The Importance of Good Lighting for Elderly Safety
As we age, our vision is bound to get worse. This can be due to health issues like cataracts or dry eyes, but it is also due to eventual wear and tear of the body. Our pupils, which are notorious for allowing light to enter the eye so that we can see, dilate by use of muscles. Eventually, these muscles start to loosen and don’t function as they used to. So, the pupil does not dilate to receive light as easily, resulting in less vision.
Without proper lighting, a senior navigating throughout the home can be at risk for trips, falls and even walking into dangerous objects. Fortunately, there are a few things that seniors and their caregivers can do to increase lighting in the home, providing the lighting eyes may no longer allow for.
Tips to Create Better Lighting for Elderly Safety
Overall Lighting: Walk through the home and turn all lights on. When the home is lit completely, are there any dark areas? It’s best to have a constant light flow throughout the house so that there are no dark areas. Remember, your aging loved one won’t experience light in the same way as you. So, their eyes can be a great way to determine where there needs to be additional light fixtures, changed bulbs, or moved lighting.
Take Care of High Traffic and Dangerous Areas: There may be areas of the home which are more used or of increased danger when not lit properly. These areas may include a stairway, hallway from the bathroom to the bedroom and the kitchen. These areas should be well lit so that seniors are sure of where they’re stepping. If the areas are well-lit throughout the day and you’re worried about nighttime lighting, installing night lights throughout the home is a great way to add the extra elderly safety you’re looking for.
Special Lighting for Aging Eyes: While it’s important to make sure the entire house is lit properly, it’s also important to make sure specific areas of the home are well lit. Especially in areas seniors spend most of their time working, reading, cleaning, or performing other daily activities. When focused on a task, our eyes work harder to concentrate. The same goes for the elderly. But, aging eyes will have to work harder to concentrate with minimal lighting and worsened eyesight. So, adding table lamps, reading lamps and other various lighting may be able to help at workstations throughout the home.
How Home Care Can Help with Elderly Safety
While as a family member or loved one you can make adjustments to a senior’s lighting, there are other ways you can ensure elderly safety. In-home caregivers may be able to help make sure lighting is always optimal for your aging loved one. If you are interested in receiving a referral for a licensed, insured and affordable caregiver service, contact us at Florida First Home Care today!