Geriatric Care Management Blog

Jan 17

Written by:
1/17/2012 3:26 PM 

    There are two fundamental laws regarding the places we call home, and these are no less true for older adults than they are for the rest of us.  One, we accumulate stuff.  Two, we tend to keep home the way it has always been.  


    The Stuff We Accumulate.  A lot of what makes it great to visit mom or dad is all the things that remind us of when we were younger and all lived together as a family.  But people have a way of hanging on to a lot of things over time, and not all of them are about memories.  The accumulated “stuff” can just become a lot of clutter or even pose a hazard to mom and dad.


    Next time you visit mom or dad be aware of clutter.  Are newspapers, magazines and mail being regularly cleared or are they stacking up?  Are there boxes or piles of stuff gathering in the living spaces and walkways?  Even small piles of articles can pose trip hazards, especially if the areas are dimly lit.  Check all the pathways of the house for ready access or easy passage.  Check exits for boxes or piles of any kinds of articles that could be a potential obstruction to easy exit in the event of an emergency.  Also check that similar piles do not block easy access to light switches as your parent enters a room.


    The ever-increasing accumulation may be insidious as it grows over time, and you may at some point be now looking at a chronic hoarder in the parent who always may have been a bit forgetful about talking out the recycling.  The basic rules of thumb to protect an older adult from hoarding are (1) would the accumulated stuff would get in the way of emergency personnel were they ever to be summoned to the home or (2) would the stuff pose a fire hazard around heaters, stoves, etc.


    The Way We Were.  New is not always better than old, but old electric blankets may be sufficiently worn that they pose fire hazards.  And as parents age they may be more susceptible to cold so they pile extra blankets on top of the old electric blanket creating an added fire hazard from the layers. 


In the bath area, the old tub may be fine, but it may not be easy to get in and out.  Consider adding at least one grab bar for tub use and another one for showering.  Having a grab bar next to the commode also is a good idea.  And back when more people lived at home it made sense to increase the temperature on the hot water heater so there was enough for everyone’s bath.  That same overly-hot water may now pose a scald hazard to an older adult.  Check the water at the tap to be sure it heats to no more than 120-125 degrees Fahrenheit or set the heater itself to this temp (“low” setting on some heaters).  Encourage your parent to check tub water before climbing in.  Baths are safer than showers which can change to a scalding temperature from sudden changes in the water temperature.  Plumbers can install low-flow, scald-protection shower devices.


While you are in the bath or kitchen areas consider installing ground fault circuit interrupters in the outlets to guard against electric shocks from small appliances like hair dryers or radios.  Talk to your parents about unplugging appliances that are not in use.


    Charlotte Bishop is a Geriatric Care Manager and founder of Creative Case Management, certified professionals who are geriatric advocates, resources, counselors and friends to older adults and their families in metropolitan Chicago.  Please email your questions to Charlotte Bishop.

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