There are 747,000 Canadians living with Alzheimer’s or other ‘dementias,’ says the Canadian Safety Council in a release about Senior Safety Week, Nov. 6 to 12 – that’s 14.9 per cent of the population 65 and older.
So knowing how to make homes safe for loved ones with dementia is a priority in many settings.
“Home is an important place for everyone and even more so for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias,” says the CSC. “A familiar environment can help a person connect with the past and maintain a sense of who they are.”
The CSC and the Alzheimer Society of Canada have some tips to offer family members and care-givers who want to make homes safer for people coping with dementia.
“People with dementia can become lost even in familiar places so it’s important to strike a balance between safety and independence,” states the CSC release.
Here’s some tips they offer:
• Have fire extinguishers, smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors tested regularly to make sure they’re working.
• Use appliances that have an automatic shut-off feature and keep them away from sinks and other sources of water.
• Use child-proof locks and doorknob covers on drawers and cupboards that contain dangerous materials such as knives, cleaning liquids and appliances.
• Store dangerous equipment like grills, lawn mowers, power tools, knives and firearms in a secure place, and lock any hazardous areas.
• Remove locks in bathrooms or bedrooms to prevent the person with dementia from being locked inside.
• If you’re concerned about someone using the stove, install a hidden gas valve or circuit breaker that prevents it from being turned on. Consider removing the knobs from the burners.
• Check the temperature of water and food as the person may have difficulty telling the difference. This applies to bath water and hot food.
• Install safety equipment in the bathroom. Grab bars for example help prevent falls.
• Consider registering the person with dementia with MedicAlert® Safely Home®. This is a bracelet identification program that helps emergency responders identify the person who is lost and return them safely home.
Another way to help keep people with dementia safe in the community is to become a Dementia Friend. Visit dementiafriends.ca, watch a short video on what it’s like to have dementia, register and commit to an action.
A joint initiative of the Alzheimer Society and Government of Canada, Dementia Friends Canada is designed to increase awareness about dementia and turn that knowledge into practical actions to improve day-to-day life for people with dementia.
