Fall can be a great time for senior loved ones. The weather is not too cold or too hot, the leaves are changing colors, and the crisp air is inviting. With fall right around the corner, it is wise to start considering a safety plan for your senior loved one for fall. After all, one of the greatest ways to avoid unnecessary issues is by being proactive.
Keeping Senior Loved One’s Safe in Their Home in the Fall
One of the largest problems that seniors face is the risk of falling. As summer changes into fall, there will be many more slick surfaces and trip hazards. Unfortunately, most individual fail to think about these hazards since they are not as dangerous as the snow.

1. Pick Up All Leaves
It is important to pick up all the leaves on a regular basis once they start filling up the yard. Failure to pick up these leaves could cause aging loved one to slip or trip. This becomes more problematic when the leaves become wet during one of the many fall rainstorms. Furthermore, in order to protect the senior’s house, be sure to keep the leaves from clogging up the gutters.

2. HVAC Inspection
Fall is the ideal time of year to have your aging relatives HVAC system inspected and cleaned. There is no denying that cold temperatures are very hard for the elderly to deal with. Having an HVAC inspection this fall may prevent a breakdown in the middle of winter leaving them without heat during the coldest time of year.

3. Make Some Simple Fixes
Lessen the chances of falls by making some simple fixes:
• Remove all throw rugs
• Add a hall railing.
• Use rubber-backed mat in the bathroom.
• Remove wheels on chairs.
• Keep steps clear.
• Move laundry facilities to the first floor
• Put non-skid treads on steps.
• Clear clutter and electric cords.
• Move low and small furniture.
• If wandering is a worry, add monitors and sensor alarms.
• Put a railing on their hall wall.
• Switch out your recliner for one that lowers and raises
• Remove locks from bathroom doors and bedroom doors
• Switch out standard doorknobs for lever handles.
• Apply non-slip wax to floors.
• Repair loose carpeting or raised areas of flooring.

4. Modify
An adapted home can be safe, comfortable, and stylish. You might need:
• a stair-climber
• zero-threshold entryways
• a waterproof seat in the shower
• wide doorways and halls
• shower chair
• controls and switches that are reachable from a wheelchair or bed
• raised toilet seat
• offset door hinges to make room for a walker, wheelchair, or two people walking side by side
• put textured no-slip strips in the bathtub and shower
• frameless walk-in shower with a sloped floor instead of a step-over threshold

5. Make It Simple to Call for Help
You can never prevent the unexpected, regardless of how many modifications you make to your senior loved one’s home this fall. If your elderly relative is experiencing an emergency, receiving immediate help can be the difference between life and death. If you do not have hired help from one of the home healthcare businesses, consider a personal emergency response system or call-assist service which your loved one can wear on their wrist or neck. Should they need help, all they would have to do is push a button.