Setting Up Your Home for Optimal Senior Care

For seniors welcoming a caregiver to their home, a well-organized environment makes daily life much smoother and safer. Whether they’re receiving care around the clock or for just a few hours a week, prepping their space can help ensure a positive experience for both older adults and their care providers.

How to Prep the Space for a Senior Care Professional

Is your mom, dad, or other elderly family member getting ready to receive assistance from one of our visiting Angels? If so, as their family member, you can assist your loved one in preparing their home for this transition. Here are several practical strategies to take to ensure your loved one’s space is ready for in-home senior care.

Enhance Safety

Take a look around your loved one’s home. Could it use decluttering? Seniors should be able to navigate each room easily and without the fear of falling. Caregivers should also be able to access important items without clutter getting in their way. A few examples of possible household hazards that should be addressed are:

• Electrical cords in the way of walking paths
• Stacks of old paperwork or boxes
• Loose area rugs
• Unstable furniture that could fall over
• Large furniture that is easy to bump into
• Uneven flooring, broken tiles, or damaged carpeting
• Crowded closets and storage areas

Consider making the following safety and comfort enhancements, especially if your family member has limited mobility:

• Add grab bars to bathrooms, staircases, and next to the senior’s bed.
• Improve the lighting in and around their home– areas like hallways and the top and bottom of stairs are sometimes overlooked. Task lighting, like next to a medication station or inside a cabinet, can also be incredibly helpful.
• Be sure any walking aids are in good shape.
• Check smoke and carbon monoxide detector batteries.
• Create a comfortable area with chairs and a table for seniors and their caregivers to relax, play a board game, craft, or engage in other activities together. Try to have the area set up near a bathroom for their convenience.

Stock the Home

It’s a good idea to have the home stocked with essentials for your loved one, as well as items that will make the caregiver’s job a bit easier, such as:

• Extra personal hygiene items, including denture supplies, shampoo and soap, lotion, razors, and adult diapers
• Spare light bulbs and flashlights
• Cleaning supplies, detergent, paper towels, and toilet paper
• Entertainment/activities, like movies, board games, and art supplies

Exchange Important Information

Although the home care agency you choose to work with will be prepped with essential information, like any health conditions your parent has, their caregiver will still want a clear picture of day-to-day needs and habits, like:

• Meal times and favorite foods.
• Their activities and interests.
• Their daily routine and bedtimes.
• A current medication and supplement list.
• Contact information for family members and the older adult’s medical team.

Visiting Angels Makes the Home Care Process Easy

We understand that starting home care services is a big adjustment for seniors and their families. It might feel overwhelming, but we’re here to help you through all of it. When you work with Visiting Angels Barrington, we try to handle as much of the load as we can. Our initial assessment and consultation are key parts of getting an accurate understanding of the personal needs of our potential client. We work to uncover information like some of the things listed in this article. Playing an active role in your elderly loved one’s preparations for aging in place goes a long way toward their success at home.

Get in touch today to learn how our compassionate caregivers can help your senior loved one living in the Barrington area.

To get started, send us a message or call 224-512-4180.