Here’s a great checklist of helpful ways to keep your senior safe and sound:
- Schedule an appointment to accompany your relative on his/her doctor visit.
- Check to see if bills are being paid on time.
- Get rid of excess clutter, particularly anything on the floor.
- Check the refrigerator to see if there are expired foods. Many seniors end up with food poisoning because they don’t check labels.
- Take care of minor maintenance tasks.
- Make sure your relative can still drive safely by accompanying her on a short drive to a nearby storre.
- Make sure the car has been inspected and is being properly maintained. Take care of any repairs, like changing the oil and checking the brakes and tires.
- Check smoke detectors and replace the batteries if you’re unsure when they were last changed.
- Go through each room of the home, the yard, and the garage thinking about safety, accessibility and adaptability.
- Does the home seem relatively clean?
- What is your relative’s mental state? Look for clues as to how your aging relative is feeling. Does he/she seem depressed? Anxious? Scared? Overwhelmed?
Lois Young-Tulin
Lois Young-Tulin, PhD, is an Assistant Geriatric Care Manager at Complete Care Strategies