Safe Home Tips for Clients of Home Care Franchises

As seniors grow older and their physical abilities change with age, their own homes may begin to become hazardous places for them. Statistics from the U. S. CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) indicate that for people age 65 or older, one of the leading causes of death is from falling. Falls generate many health risks for seniors including bone fractures, critical head injuries and permanent disabilities. Senior care providers must be diligent about providing their services in making clients' homes safe so the clients may continue to live in them comfortably and with reasonable mobility.

It is vital for home care franchise owners to develop and implement a means of assessing the safety of a client's home and then train their caregivers how to implement any needed changes to insure the safety and comfort of the client. One of the most thorough and consistent ways to assess home safety is through a Home Safety Checklist. The franchise may generate their own, taking care to include the key items/areas of a home that generate the most accidents or causes for concern. The key rooms to consider are kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms and the primary living spaces.

Items to check should include:

• Kitchen: use tea kettle/coffee maker with automatic shut off feature
• Kitchen: keep hazardous materials well away from food storage areas
• Kitchen: rotate food stuffs/check expiration dates on products
• Kitchen: store sharp objects (knives) in racks or drawers
• Bathroom: install balance and mobility aids (handle bars, shower seats)
• Bathroom: skid-proof mat in shower or tub
• Bathroom: cold and hot water faucets clearly marked
• Bathroom: only use door locks that allow the door to be opened from either side
• Living area: remove clutter/ease access through the space
• Living area: secure edge of carpets/area rugs with non-skid pads or double-sided carpet tape
• Living area: ensure stair rails are in good repair/firmly attached to wall
• Living area: restrict access to stairs if necessary

Caregivers can be trained to safeguard every client's home based on the standardized system of assessment provided in your Home Safety Checklist.  This ensures your non-medical home care franchise offers consistency of care for all clients, regardless of which caregiver is providing the home service of each client.