Seniors Should Heed Home Safety Cautions

Most seniors enjoy keeping neat, clean houses. But as older adults become a bit less steady, they also can become less sure of their ability to continue cleaning. The following safety tips from the Home Safety Council (http://www.homesafetycouncil.org/index.aspx) and Home Instead Senior Care can help:

• Keep stairs, steps, landings and all floors clear of clutter.
• Carry loads you can see over, and keep one hand free to hold banisters and railings.
• Safely tuck telephone and electrical cords out of walkways.
• If you need to climb, always use a ladder-although, for seniors, it's usually best to get others to do the climbing.
• Follow product label safety recommendations, like wearing gloves and masks when using harsh products.
• DO NOT mix household cleaning products together, since their contents can react and cause deadly results.
• Carefully read the labels on all products and medications. Separate those which say "Caution," "Warning," "Danger" or "Poison." Always empty cleaning buckets after use, and store them upside down.
• Make sure the water heater is set to 120 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent scalding.
• Keep a fire extinguisher handy, along with a fully stocked first-aid kit.
• Post emergency telephone numbers near every phone in the house.

And should there come a time when cleaning just becomes too challenging, a reputable cleaning firm might be the answer. Or, better yet, consider hiring a senior-care companion to assist around the house.

Home Instead Senior Care's CAREGivers are screened, bonded, insured and equipped to help keep seniors living independently in their homes. CAREGivers assist clients with tasks like laundry, meal preparation, medication reminders, errands and shopping-in addition to providing cleaning support.