Seniors’ bedrooms should adapt to their changing demands as they get older. It is essential to their well-being that they sleep in a secure and comfortable setting. Below, you’ll find some practical suggestions for making seniors’ bedrooms safer, including raising the bed to the proper height, installing bed rails, keeping necessities close, making sure there is enough lighting, and making closet modifications. With loved ones and home care by their side, seniors’ bedrooms can be as safe as can be.
Appropriate Bed Height
The height of the bed has a significant impact on a senior’s ability to enter and exit it safely. An improperly raised or lowered bed can be difficult and even hazardous. Determining the bed’s right height is as simple as ensuring the senior can put their feet flat on the floor with their knees level to their hips when they sit on the edge. This posture lowers the chance of falling and makes getting up from a sitting position easier.
Considering Bed Rails
To increase the safety of seniors’ beds, it might be a good idea to install bed rails. Bed rails help avoid falls during the night and offer support when getting in and out of bed. They are available in a variety of designs, ranging from compact, portable rails that are simple to connect and remove to full-length rails that extend the length of the bed. Once placed, home care and loved ones will need to check periodically to make sure the rails are still firmly in place.
Keeping Necessities Nearby
Having necessities within arm’s reach can make a big difference for seniors. The easiest way to do this is to put a table beside their bed. However, you’ll want to make sure the table doesn’t have sharp edges in case seniors fall out of their beds and hit the table on the way down. On the table, things like their phone, glasses if needed, medications, water, and anything else they need should be placed where they can reach them. To keep everything arranged and organized, seniors can use a basket or tray.
Focus on Lighting
Seniors often get up in the middle of the night, either to go to the bathroom or because they can’t sleep. Knowing this, it’s important to place lighting appropriately throughout the room, including night lights, a lamp on the table, and any other lighting that might be needed. For instance, motion-sensor nightlights are especially helpful because they switch on immediately when seniors get out of bed, giving off instant light and lowering the chance of tripping.
Modifying the Closet
When making sure the bedroom is safe, loved ones and home care also need to pay attention to the closet. The truth is that safety and independence can be increased with a well-organized closet. To reduce the need for bending or reaching, rods and shelves should be placed at heights seniors can easily reach. Additionally, pull-out bins or shelves could be added to make it simpler to reach objects kept at the back. Lighting comes into play in the closet, as most closets don’t have the best lighting. A good option is to install the same motion sensor lights that are in the rest of the room.
Careful design and adjustment are necessary to provide a safe bedroom for seniors. Loved ones and home care can come together to improve seniors’ bedrooms by following the above strategies.
If you or an aging loved one is considering Home Care in New Milford, NY, please contact the caring staff at Elderly Caregivers LLC. today at (203) 628-7438
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