Household Modifications to Consider

With toddlers, the term is "childproofing." With those afflicted with Alzheimer's disease, there is no similar term, but the concept is the same. Many things around a home that pose no danger to people in full possession of their mental faculties can be major hazards for people with Alzheimer's. It's impossible to make any home absolutely safe for a person with Alzheimer's. But there are many steps you can take to reduce affected individuals' risk of injury&nbsp-- and your risk of them getting into things they shouldn't. Places and issues to think about:

• Outside your home


• Around the house


• In the kitchen


• In the bathroom


• Around the car


• Smoking

Outside your home

• Walkways and steps should be clear of debris and accessories, such as flower pots. They should be well-lighted, and all stairs should have railings. Stair edges can be marked with grip tape or painted to make them more visible.
  
  
  
  


• Porches and decks should have railings at least waist high. Lower railings are tripping hazards. Consider installing childproofing gates at the tops and bottoms of staircases.
  
  
  
  


• Yard hazards include: uneven ground, holes in the ground, thorny bushes, poisonous plants, swing sets, low fencing, barbed-wire fencing, rickety lawn furniture, children's toys (bikes, skateboards, rollerblades, etc.), and lawn borders&nbsp-- for example, decorative brick, that can be tripped over.
  
  
  
  


• Keep all yard and garden tools put away and locked up. If you have a compost pile, cover it securely.
  
  
  
  


• Keep your garage locked securely.
  
  
  
  


• Secure your garbage cans and recycling containers.
  
  
  
  


• Wherever possible, replace glass with unbreakable plastic: patio tabletops, and windows on sheds, garages, and basements.
  
  
  
  


• Remove clotheslines the person might walk into. Remove other hanging decorations, such as wind chimes that might bang the person's head. Or raise hanging ornaments out of harm's way.
  
  
  
  


• When grilling on an outdoor barbecue, never leave it unattended. Afterward, while it's still hot, make sure the person with Alzheimer's cannot get near it. If you have a gas grill, make sure the person cannot turn it on. Disconnect the gas supply. Or remove, lock, or disable the gas-flow valve.
  
  
  
  


• Swimming pools are a particular hazard. They should be securely fenced with gates the affected individual cannot operate. Draining pools does not eliminate the hazard. The person with Alzheimer's can still fall in and be seriously injured.

Around the house

• Sparse is better than cluttered. The less there is to trip over or break, the better. In addition, clutter may confuse or upset people with Alzheimer's disease. Move decorative knick-knacks out of harm's way, secure them, or eliminate them.
  
  
  
  


• Lower the temperature of your water heater so the affected individual cannot be scalded. Accidental scaldings are quite common among people with Alzheimer's.
  
  
  
  


• Keep the basement door locked.
  
  
  
  


• In the basement, clearly label paints, insecticides, cleaning solvents, and other poisonous items. Keep them locked. Also keep the phone number of your local Poison Control Center by each phone. Find it in the front of most phone books in the first-aid section, or in the white pages under Poison.
  
  
  
  


• Install childproofing latches on drawers in basement cabinets.
  
  
  
  


• Install childproofing gates at the tops and bottoms of staircases.
  
  
  
  


• Make sure all stairs have secure railings anchored in wall studs&nbsp-- not held in place by screw anchors in sheetrock.
  
  
  
  


• Area rugs can be a problem. If they slip, the person could fall. Secure them with rubber underpadding. However, even when rugs cannot slip, they present a tripping hazard. It's best to eliminate them.
  
  
  
  


• Move your fragile antiques out of harm's way.
  
  
  
  


• Check for sharp edges on furniture and counters. If you have sharp-edged items, consider covering them with foam sheeting secured with duct tape.
  
  
  
  


• Glass-topped coffee tables, end tables, dining and kitchen tables are not a good idea. Glass doors on china cabinets can also be a problem. Many china cabinets have removable glass panels. Consider removing them and substituting curtains.
  
  
  
  


• People with Alzheimer's disease are prone to spilling things that might stain upholstery. Consider slip covers, or application of stain-resistant fabric coatings. If you acquire new furniture, vinyl and leather are more spill- and stain-resistant than cloth.
  
  
  
  


• All upholstery, curtains, drapes, and linens should be flame-resistant.
  
  
  
  


• Install safety locks on all windows the person with Alzheimer's might fall out of. Safety locks allow the window to be opened about three inches for ventilation, but no more.
  
  
  
  


• If you have radiator heating, radiators can get very hot in winter. Use furniture or childproofing fencing to keep the affected person away.
  
  
  
  


• Keep sewing supplies out of reach. People with Alzheimer's may eat buttons or stick themselves with pins.
  
  
  
  


• People with Alzheimer's may eat houseplants. Make a list of all your houseplants. Then consult a nursery or your Poison Control Center to see if any are poisonous. Many common houseplants are, such as Dieffenbachias. Eliminate potentially poisonous plants.
  
  
  
  


• Consider installing locks on closet doors.

In the kitchen

• Stoves and ovens are a particular hazard for people with Alzheimer's. They may burn themselves or start house fires. If you have a gas range and oven, remove the knobs so the affected person cannot turn anything on. If you have an electric range and oven, have an electrician or appliance professional install a hidden switch that allows you to shut the appliance off so the affected individual cannot turn anything on.
  
  
  
  


• Keep matches well-hidden.
  
  
  
  


• Fit drawers with childproofing latches to keep the affected individual away from knives and other potentially hazardous implements.
  
  
  
  


• Consider putting ceramic dishes into storage and using unbreakable plastic.
  
  
  
  


• People with Alzheimer's disease may open the refrigerator or freezer, and then not close it. Consider childproofing hardware that prevents the affected person from opening these doors.
  
  
  
  


• Waxed kitchen floors present a slipping hazard, especially when they are wet. People with Alzheimer's may spill things and not clean up. Consider not waxing your kitchen floor.
  
  
  
  


• Toasters, food processors, and other countertop appliances may cause injury. Consider storing them out of the affected person's reach.
  
  
  
  


• Lock the liquor cabinet.

In the bathroom

• People with Alzheimer's disease may lock themselves in and not be able to get out. Consider removing your bathroom locks. The trouble with that is that the person with Alzheimer's might think nothing of walking in on you. If that's a concern, consider a keyed lock.
  
  
  
  


• Install locks on medicine cabinets.
  
  
  
  


• If the affected individual throws things into the toilet, install childproofing hardware that prevents lifting the lid.
  
  
  
  


• Install handrails in the bath/shower. Also consider a grab-bar by the toilet.
  
  
  
  


• Place slip-preventing mats or decals on the floor of the tub/shower.
  
  
  
  


• Consider eliminating the bath mat. It's a slipping and tripping hazard.
  
  
  
  


• Consider raising the toilet seat. Medical supply houses sell raised-seat devices. They also sell porta-potties that can be placed in the affected person's bedroom.

Around the car

• As Alzheimer's disease progresses, the affected person must eventually stop driving.
  
  
  
  


• Think twice before leaving people with Alzheimer's alone in cars. They may release the emergency brake, or turn the lights on, or get into other potentially hazardous mischief.
  
  
  
  


• Power windows are potentially hazardous for people with dementia. They may get their fingers, arms, hair, or head caught in them. Have your mechanic disable power windows adjacent to seats occupied by those with dementia.
  
  
  
  


• People with Alzheimer's disease may unlock car doors and open them while the car is moving. If your car does not have child-safety latches already, ask your mechanic to install them. Child-safety latches are special hidden switches that prevent passengers in certain seats from unlocking nearby doors.

Smoking

• No one should smoke, and especially not people with Alzheimer's disease, who may start fires with either cigarettes or matches. Discourage smoking. One way to do this is to simply take away the person's cigarettes and matches or lighter. Another is to just remove the matches or lighter. That way the person can still "smoke" unlit cigarettes.
  
  
  
  


• If anyone in the house smokes, matches or lighters may be inadvertently left accessible to the person with Alzheimer's disease. Keep all matches and lighters out of the person's reach.
  
  
  
  


• Your local chapter of the Alzheimer's Association can also provide home-safety suggestions, and referrals to helpful resources. Some communities have experts on home safety willing to inspect your home and make specific suggestions for improving its safety. These people may also be willing to contract to install hardware to make your home Alzheimer's-proof.