Welcome to my series on practical ways to help the elderly. You can read the introduction here. This is the 6th article in the series of ways to help the elderly live better.
Whether your loved on lives on their own, with family, or in a Senior Citizens Home, you need to make sure their environment is as safe as possible.
In this post I am going to talk about fires.
Load shedding has forced many elderly residents who live by themselves or in facilities where they are responsible for their own care, to become more vulnerable.
An 86 year old resident in our complex lit candles in her bedroom area and another in her bathroom. Her curtains and bed were set alight and the fire was spreading quickly. Fortunately a neighbour and our handyman were able to prevent a terrible disaster.
- If possible, do not let your loved one use candles. Buy them rechargeable torches and lights.
- Leaving pots on the stove turned on during load shedding. I can’t smell and this is quite common among the elderly. The power comes back, food is burnt or a fire may start. The kitchen will be filled with smoke and increases the risk of burns and falls.
- Gas is very scary for many elderly but they have had to resort to using a camping gas stove or even a bigger cylinder and cooking top to boil water and cook a meal. Their homes may be cramped and the gas cooker is put on top of the oven or on an unwieldy table and there is the risk of it falling and causing a fire.
- Bar heaters and gas heaters can also be dangerous especially if placed next to the bed or curtains. They also become yet another obstacle to trip over.
- When the power is off for several days, there is the risk of food in the fridge and freezer going off. Check that any suspect food is disposed of properly to avoid rats and cockroaches.
- Get your loved ones a backup power bank to charge their phones and USB torches to ensure they can maintain contact.
- Is there an easy escape route from the fire? If they live in a facility find out what fire procedures they have in place.
- Smoking inside and even worse is smoking while lying in bed. The risk of them falling asleep with a lit cigarette is a huge fire risk. However, elderly people who have smoked all their lives can be very stubborn, so this is difficult to manage.
- Fire extinguishers are usually quite heavy and the elderly person may not be able to lift or operate it. Invest in a few small portable fire extinguishers and keep one in the kitchen and one in the bedroom. Fire blankets are also affordable.
- Have a list of emergency numbers on the back of the front and back doors and on their phones.
- Purchase My Medical Companion for only R95 to have all details of medication, medical professionals and medical history handy.
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