Senior Safety - Kitchen Hazards and Quick Fixes

Are your parents safe living at home? Are they mentally pretty clear, but beginning to have physical or judgment deficits which might impact their safety? Does your elderly parent have the judgment to safely handle a knife in the kitchen? Do you worry that Mom may fall down and not be able to get to the phone? According to The National Safety Council, falls are now the leading cause of injury deaths in people 65 years of age and older. Fall risk is just one of several safety issues specific to the kitchen. In this article, I will show you how to identify and reduce these hazards, keeping your elderly loved ones safer.

• Floors and floor coverings: Some floor cleaning solutions and floor wax leave the surface very slippery and should not be used. Throw rugs should be attached to the floor with double sided tape. If a cane or walker is used, throw rugs should be eliminated altogether.
• Lighting: Light switches need to be within easy reach. There should not be any areas inside the kitchen that cannot be illuminated.
• Water temperature: Set the hot water heater to no more than 120 F to lessen the risk of burns.
• Fire safety: Keep a fire extinguisher handy, especially in the kitchen, and be sure to review its use with your elder loved ones. This is also a great opportunity to discuss fire safety in general, such as: avoiding loose hanging pajamas or loungewear while cooking; exit strategies, etc.
• Clutter: This may sound like a no-brainer, but it is often overlooked. Clear away unwanted items, especially from all pathways in the home. Besides reducing tripping hazards, this will help lessen fire risks.
• Heavy Objects: Go through the kitchen and move out-of-reach and heavy objects to a more convenient place to discourage use of a footstool, which would pose a fall risk.
• Use ofsharp utensils and electric appliances: Observe your older family member cutting with a sharp knife or cooking with the microwave. If judgment is adequate, but lack of strength or coordination interferes with opening a jar or using a kitchen tool, there are many adaptive or assistive devices which can help. Rocker knives, eating utensils with thicker handles, and jar-openers are just a few examples.
• Food preparation is best done sitting at a table to prevent fatigue and fall risks.
• Food safety: Refrigerator temperature should be no greater than 40 F to slow bacterial growth, per the FDA. Food leftovers should be labeled with dates and discarded according to recommended time guidelines, or if they smell or look "off". As my mom always used to say, "If in doubt, throw it out!" Since many elderly people may have a dulled sense of smell and poor vision, routinely check what's in the refrigerator when you visit.
• Emergency plan: Be sure there is a smoke detector properly functioning on each level of the home. Attach an easy-to-read list of emergency phone numbers near every phone and review emergency procedures with your elderly family members. Since a large percentage of falls occur in the kitchen, installing a phone in this room is a great idea. You may want to consider a mobile safety alarm which is worn on the wrist or as a pendant, to automatically summon help with the push of a button.

If you still are not sure whether your loved ones just need a few new devices or if they truly need more involved help to be safe, you may want to obtain a safety evaluation performed by a Physical or Occupational Therapist specializing in geriatric care. These professionals are experts in determining one's safety and judgment while performing activities of daily living and also can recommend appropriate assistive devices and alternative living environments if a change is needed.