Comprehensive Guide to Dementia-Focused Home Safety: Ensuring a Safe Aging in Place Environment for Loved Ones

Understanding Dementia, Alzheimer's Disease and Home Safety

Dementia is a term used to describe a group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking, and social abilities severely enough to interfere with daily functioning. According to Us Against Alzheimer's, Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for 60-80% of cases (https://www.usagainstalzheimers.org/alzheimers-disease-get-facts). As individuals with dementia age, they often prefer to remain in their own homes, a concept known as "aging in place." Especially with rising medical costs and fear of infectious diseases, this can seem a very wise decision for the whole family. However, this desire presents unique challenges when it comes to ensuring their safety and well-being.

What is Dementia?

According to Alzinfo.org, “The terms Alzheimer’s and Dementia are often used interchangeably, but they have very different meanings. Dementia is a syndrome that describes a wide range of symptoms. These symptoms impact a person’s ability to perform everyday activities independently. Alzheimer’s is a neurodegenerative disease that is the most common cause of dementia. In Alzheimer’s, the brain may show signs of the disease before the person experiences any symptoms.” (https://www.alzinfo.org/understand-alzheimers/dementia-vs-alzheimers/ )

How Dementia Affects Home Safety

Dementia can have a profound impact on an individual's ability to navigate their home safely. Memory deficits and safety deficits can lead to accidents, wandering, and an increased risk of falls. As the condition progresses, individuals with dementia may struggle to recognize familiar surroundings, leading to confusion and disorientation within their own homes.

Importance of Creating a Dementia-Focused Home Environment

Creating a safe and supportive home environment for individuals with dementia is crucial for their well-being. A dementia-focused home environment not only minimizes the risk of accidents and injuries but also promotes independence reduces anxiety, and enhances the overall quality of life for the individual.

Importance of Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists in Creating a Dementia-Focused Home Environment

How do you go about achieving a safe, preventative, independent home for you or your loved one with Dementia? There are companies such as Rosarium Health, which employ Physical and Occupational Therapists to aid in assessing your home. But even more important, they aid in assessing yourself or your loved one. The difference in having a medical professional evaluate your home is the understanding of the disease's nature as well as how it affects one physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Employing PTs and OTs with years of experience and thousands of patient encounters, you can feel confident that your home safety evaluator understands your specific needs. You can speak to the team at Rosarium Health anytime by going here: https://www.rosariumhealth.com/.

Practical Home Safety Measures for Dementia Patients

What are some quick safety ideas that you can perform today? Here is a brief list below.

Securing the Home: Preventing Accidents and Wandering

Securing the home is essential to prevent accidents and wandering. This can involve installing locks on doors and windows, using doorknob covers, and utilizing technology such as alarms or GPS tracking devices to monitor movement and prevent wandering.

Creating a Dementia-Friendly Space: Organization and Simplification

Simplifying and organizing the home environment can help individuals with dementia navigate their surroundings more easily. This can include decluttering, using labels and signs, and creating clear pathways to essential areas of the home.

It’s important with people with memory issues to create habits and repetitive tasks. So make sure to keep items in the same place and if you do move something, make it a routine so that they learn it’s new location.

Safety in the Kitchen and Bathroom: Minimizing Risks

The kitchen and bathroom are common areas where accidents can occur. Minimizing risks in these spaces may involve installing grab bars, using non-slip mats, and implementing stove and appliance safety devices to prevent burns or fires.

Nurturing a Supportive Environment for Dementia Patients at Home

The Role of Familiarity and Routine

Familiarity and routine can provide a sense of comfort and security for individuals with dementia. Maintaining familiar routines and incorporating familiar objects can help reduce confusion and disorientation.

Incorporating Memory Aids and Reminders

Memory aids and reminders, such as large wall clocks, calendars, and medication organizers, can help individuals with dementia stay oriented and independent in their daily activities.

Promoting Independence while Ensuring Safety

Balancing independence and safety is essential for the well-being of individuals with dementia. Encouraging and supporting them in performing daily tasks while ensuring their safety through supervision and assistive devices is key.

Emotional and Psychological Well-being in a Dementia-Focused Home

Reducing Anxiety and Agitation: Calming and Soothing Spaces

Creating calming and soothing spaces within the home, such as quiet areas with comfortable seating and familiar objects, can help reduce anxiety and agitation for individuals with dementia.

You may not think the color of the walls is important, but every detail can matter.

Encouraging Social Engagement and Activities

Social engagement and meaningful activities are important for the emotional well-being of individuals with dementia. Creating opportunities for social interaction and engaging in activities they enjoy can enhance their quality of life.

Supporting Caregivers: Self-care and Resources

Caring for a loved one with dementia can be emotionally and physically demanding. Caregivers need to prioritize self-care and seek support from resources such as caregiver training programs and support groups.

Seeking Professional Support and Resources for Dementia Home Safety

Working with Healthcare Professionals and Specialists

Consulting with healthcare professionals, including physical therapists, occupational therapists, and dementia specialists, can provide valuable insights and guidance for creating a safe home environment for individuals with dementia. Rosarium Health is one company that is at the forefront of providing medical-focused home safety assessments using PTs and OTs. You can call here to get your questions answered: https://www.rosariumhealth.com/.

Utilizing Community and Online Support Services

Community resources, such as adult day programs and respite care services, can offer support for both individuals with dementia and their caregivers. Online support services and resources can also provide valuable information and assistance.

Financial and Legal Considerations for Dementia Care at Home

Navigating the financial and legal aspects of dementia care at home, including long-term care planning, insurance coverage, and legal arrangements, is important for ensuring the long-term well-being and security of individuals with dementia.

Summary of the Importance of Home Modifications for Dementia-Focused Safe Aging Place

Creating a safe and supportive home environment for individuals with dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease requires careful consideration of practical safety measures, nurturing a supportive environment, and seeking professional support and resources. By implementing these strategies, caregivers and family members can ensure a secure and comforting home environment that promotes the well-being of their loved ones with dementia. The team at Rosarium Health is passionate and excited to help you. Please contact us at 855-202-8762 or support@rosariumhealth.com to speak to a provider near you!

Essential Home Modifications for Dementia Patients

Now, more than ever, we want to be able to live safely in our homes and avoid nursing homes or assisted living centers. In this article, we'll guide you or a loved one who may be having memory, safety awareness, balance, or strength issues as a result of Dementia or Alzheimer's Disease with key home modification recommendations to enable you to feel safe again in your home.

Understanding the Needs of Dementia Patients

Each diagnosis, whether it is general weakness, Parkinson's, a stroke, or Dementia and Alzheimer's can impact the safety in a home differently. It is vital to have experts who know these specific diagnoses - not just from a medical standpoint but from a movement perspective, assess your home as each diagnosis is different.

Rosarium Health provides licensed Occupational and Physical Therapists who have treated thousands of patients and are aging-in-place specialists to perform Dementia and Alzheimer-focused safety assessments.

Why have experts in the medical field assess your home for accessibility adaptations?

• Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists (PTs and OTs) understand the importance of working with your whole medical team, from the nurses, physicians, and case managers to family members and caregivers.
• PTs and OTs are movement experts. They work with physical and mental disabilities daily and have seen a large volume of different presentations and cases for each diagnosis. They can anticipate your safety needs for today but also for the future.
• PTs and OTs are medical equipment experts. They give out assistive devices and medical equipment like hotcakes. They know a large variety of devices and equipment and are at the forefront of any new technology that could make older adults' lives so much easier and safer. They are also experts in training the family and caregiver.
• PTs and OTs are trained in home safety assessments and often take additional education such as the CAPS certification to enhance their education even more.

Benefits of Dementia Focused Home Modifications

Even little improvements in your home can make a dramatic difference in the likelihood of a fall! Although it's important to think about safety, it's also important to think about independence. We want you to be able to feel like you can cook, you can walk throughout your home, you can go upstairs or downstairs by yourself.

How can home improvements allow you to age in place longer?

1. Fall(s) prevention. This is the first focus.
2. Help everyone feel happy and confident with you living at home.
3. Help you be able to cook independently
4. Help you be able to move amongst the rooms or floors independently
5. Help you be able to do the hobbies or activities you enjoy doing
6. And prevent/reduce the excessive costs that you may incur with hospitals and nursing homes

What are some minor home modifications that we suggest?

1. Declutter your home. Removing throw rugs, loose cords, and items on the floor are all quick fixes that make a dramatic difference in assisting older adults with safety and accessibility.
2. Improve the lighting during the daytime but also at nighttime
3. Address your assistive devices such as a cane, rollator, walker, or wheelchair
4. Add different handles to the cabinet drawers
5. Recommend installing grab bars in the bathroom and around the toilet
6. Advocate for occupational therapy or physical therapy
7. Guiding you to hire a contractor if needed or discussing financing options if needed. Helping with your ability to pay is a key factor in your ability to perform major renovations.

This is just a small list of adjustments that can truly make an impact in older adults staying in their homes longer and with better quality of life.

Common Challenges Faced by Dementia Patients

When it comes to performing home modifications, assessments, and recommendations for those with Dementia and Alzheimer's it is important to understand that you must consider many different factors.

These factors include:

1. How is one's memory now and also how may it change in the future?
2. Is there a support system for family and caregivers? This dramatically changes certain recommendations
3. How is one's physical strength, ability to get up from chairs, ability to perform stairs, and ability to walk now, and how it may change in the future?
4. What does the house or apartment look light right now? (Such as number of bedrooms or stairs)
5. Are they in therapy or performing exercise? Willingness to seek medical help to maintain health?
6. What are other health issues that they may have?

A home assessment performed by a physical or occupational therapist will ask you all these questions and more. Each person is unique in their needs and challenges and that's why it's so important to use a company such as Rosarium Health to guide your home modifications.

Where can those with Dementia and Alzheimer's get a home safety assessment?

We highly recommend you contact our support at Rosarium Health. We have licensed physical and occupational therapists who are trained in home modifications ready to help you. In addition, we also have a large network of contractors, who just like our therapists, are trained on the complexities of home modifications and can help with installation and remodeling of your home as needed.