Home Safety Tips for Seniors Who Live Alone

Independent older adults often prefer to live alone and enjoy the solitude of having their space all to themselves. However, as adults age, there are some things that can leave them a little more vulnerable, particularly if they live alone.

Fellowship Square offers home safety tips for seniors that live alone. 

Prevent Fall Hazards —

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, millions of older people, ages 65 and older, fall each year. “In fact, more than one out of four older people falls each year,” the site reports, adding. “Each year 3 million older people are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries.” For those that live alone, a fall can leave them in a dangerous situation if they can’t reach a phone to call for help. 

So it’s important first of all to try to prevent a fall by clearing any trip hazards on the floor (such as a loose rug or stacks of old items), making sure dark hallways or other areas are well lit and ensuring the bathroom shower (and other areas as needed) are equipped with safety rails or bars to assist older adults with daily tasks on their own. 

Automate it —

Timers on lights can also serve as a safety feature to not only deter potential predators or burglars (on the exterior of the home) but also light the way for seniors as it gets dark inside the home. Things like old fashioned clap-on lighting or newer lighting with remote or app options can assist seniors in lighting things up (as well as closing garage doors and setting alarms) at the touch of a button. 

Have a Check-in Buddy —

Seniors that live alone may want to establish a safety check-in system with a friend that also lives alone or a family member. If that senior is not heard from in a certain number of days or cannot be reached by a certain time in an ordinary situation (not including if they are out of town, for example), then the friend or family member should go to their house and check on them.

Use a Medical Alert or Fall Monitoring System —

An automated system can also serve as a high-tech check-in system to activate an alert for assistance if they cannot reach the phone. The alert system will immediately notify emergency services to send help. 

Fellowship Square encourages seniors to be independent! Living alone is certainly one of the benefits of being an independent older adult and with a few safety measures, this can be a joyous time.