Our 5 Tips for Older People Living Alone

More and more older people are living alone. While some manage without much difficulty, others find it somewhat harder to cope with loneliness. Indeed, as people age, their physical and mental abilities decline, making older adults much more vulnerable to household accidents. That is why it is essential for our seniors to take certain precautions so they can continue living in a healthy and secure environment. Here are our 5 tips for older people living alone!

Adapt Your Home to Your Needs

Older people tend to want to stay at home. Indeed, most seniors say that nothing compares to the comfort of their own home for enjoying retirement. However, it quickly becomes clear that a home needs to be adapted as a person ages, making it much more practical and secure. Adapting the home should be the first thing to consider if an older person plans to live there alone.

First, consider installing support points throughout the house. Grab bars fixed to the walls are generally preferred so that the older person can move around the home safely. In addition, adapt the senior’s furniture by providing a raised bed, an orthopedic chair, cabinets fitted with handles, and an electric bed base so they can adjust the height of their back as desired.

Install Timers and Motion Detectors

Consider installing a timer in an older person’s home so that the lights turn off automatically after a certain amount of time. In addition, motion detectors are very popular among seniors: this device is activated when it detects a person’s movements and automatically turns on the lights in the room. Timers and motion detectors also scare off intruders, who prefer to act in the dark. Thus, even when you are not at home, the lights will turn on when movement is detected, giving the impression that you are there.

Prevent Falls with Non-Slip Mats

Older people are particularly vulnerable in the event of a fall because of the fragility of their bones and spine. That is why it is essential for an older person to equip their entire home with non-slip mats specially designed for seniors. In addition, be sure to clear the area in front of your entrance door in winter if snow accumulates there. In the toilet and bathroom, consider installing grab bars on both sides of the wall so you can hold on to them, preventing falls caused by wet floors. Remember that falls are often fatal for older people, which is why it is essential to equip the home with the appropriate tools.

Prepare for Any Emergency

Older people are vulnerable from a health perspective. When living alone, a senior must prepare for every emergency they may face. In particular, older people should be made aware of the risks of fire, power outages, and severe weather. Once again, it is all a matter of adapting the living space, which is why you should have the following equipment:

• Install smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms
• Prepare a fire safety plan and equip the home with a fire extinguisher
• Make sure the home is sufficiently well lit so that the older person can move around safely
• Consider buying an emergency kit containing essential items such as a flashlight, candles, matches, a lighter, and batteries. Store this kit in an easily accessible place so that the older person can retrieve it in the event of a power outage
• Write down the numbers of services that help people in distress in a notebook so that the older person can call quickly in an emergency
  

Always Keep Your Keys with You

When living alone, an older person is much more vulnerable to the risk of burglary. Indeed, seniors are criminals’ favorite targets, which is why it is essential to take extra security precautions as you age. In particular, we recommend equipping your home with coded locks and giving the code only to a very limited circle of people: your children, friends, or trusted neighbors. If you have a standard lock, make sure to always keep your keys with you, and above all, do not do as they do in the movies by hiding them under a mat or flowerpot at the entrance to your home.