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Maintaining
a Safe, Alzheimer-friendly Environment
The
home is an important place for a person with Alzheimer's disease. It helps her connect with the past and maintain
a sense of who she is. However, some practical changes
may need to be made to keep the home "Alzheimer-friendly."
When
modifying your home environment, it is important to keep
a familiar environment. Too many restrictions can make
it difficult for the person to take part in daily activities,
and can seriously affect her self-esteem.
Adapt
the task to the person's current abilities. For example,
a person who enjoyed wood-working may no longer be able
to use power tools but may still be able to nail, sand
and paint in the workroom.
Take
a few minutes to complete the following checklist on
home safety. Keep in mind that as the disease progresses,
you may need to update your responses.
Home
safety checklist
| |
Yes |
No |
| Do
I need to store the scatter rugs and secure the carpet
to prevent falls? |
|
|
| Are
the stairways safe for the person I am caring for? |
|
|
| Is
the person with Alzheimer's disease able to use the
electrical appliances in the kitchen and bathroom
safely? |
|
|
| Should
the hot water heater temperature be lowered? |
|
|
| Are
there any medications, cleaning substances or gardening
chemicals that should be locked away? |
|
|
| Do
I need to be there when the person with Alzheimer's disease has a cigarette or should I hide the lighter
and matches? |
|
|
| Should
I lock some of the doors or do I need to change the
placing of the locks on the doors? |
|
|
| Should
I consider getting some safety equipment into the
bathroom (i.e., grab-bars, elevated toilet seat,
non-slip mat)? |
|
|
| Is
the lighting good enough to get rid of shadows that
may cause confusion? |
|
|
| Are
there items that confuse the person with Alzheimer's disease (i.e., pictures/mirrors)? |
|
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This
information is taken from the Alzheimer
Journey, Module 2: On the Road. You can get a
copy from your local
Alzheimer Society.
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