Ensuring your loved one’s safety at home as a primary hospice caregiver is paramount. It’s essential to work with your loved one’s hospice care team for personalized recommendations. Any minor slip or fall could have serious consequences, so creating an environment that’s safe and accessible is key. Not only does this help prevent accidents, but it also provides peace of mind for you as a caregiver.

In this blog, we’re sharing some ways to make your loved one’s home feel more accessible and safer while on hospice. 

How to make bathrooms safer 

Bathrooms are a common place for accidents to occur. Whether your loved one uses their bathroom regularly on their own, with a mobility device, or with assistance, it’s essential to ensure the space is functional and safe for them to use. 

Grab bars

Grab bars are crucial to have in the bathroom, especially in the shower. They provide additional support when your loved one is using the space. Hanging onto a grab bar can assist in standing and sitting while maintaining balance and stability. 

Adding a grab bar to your space will bring you peace of mind and help your loved one feel independent while moving about.  

Shower chairs 

Shower chairs can make showering more comfortable for your family members and prevent slips and falls in the tub or shower. While it can make showering easier for caregivers, it also allows your loved one to maintain a sense of independence and dignity during this time. 

Non-slip shower or bathtub mats

Rubber non-slip mats are essential to have in their bathroom. Since the mat is adhered to the floor, it prevents slips and falls from the wet floors. Minimizing fall risks can help you and your family member avoid dangerous accidents. 

Adjust the height of the toilet seat

Modifying your loved one’s current toilet can help make using the restroom easier for them, allowing them to feel more confident and independent. Having a higher toilet seat can make it easier to sit down and stand up, especially for people with a limited range of motion. 

How to make common areas safer 

Making simple adjustments to common areas can drastically improve your loved one’s mobility and confidence. Creating open, clutter-free pathways and securing potential hazards can drastically decrease fall risks. Here are some items to secure to create a safer environment for your loved one in hospice. 

Anchor furniture to walls

Securing furniture to the wall is another way to prevent accidents at home. If a dresser or bookshelf is not securely anchored to the wall, it could easily tip over if your loved one needed to grab on to stabilize themselves. 

Secure rugs or get rid of them altogether

Your loved one can easily slip or trip over the corner of a rug. If you cannot remove the area rug altogether, a non-slip mat underneath can prevent it from moving around. 

Hide exposed wires 

Exposed cords and wires pose another fall risk, mainly if they are located near your loved one’s bed, couch, recliner, or feet. Keeping their path clear and free from any tripping hazards reduces the chance of injury and helps your loved one feel more secure as they move around their home.

Add additional lighting in dimly lit areas 

Changing out the lighting to make an area appear brighter can help your loved one see and move around better. It can be as simple as adding a new lamp or changing out light bulbs. Improved lighting not only reduces the risk of trips and falls but also helps create a warm and welcoming space.

Keep important items accessible

Keeping important items close by helps your loved one maintain a sense of control and independence. It can also reduce the need for your loved one to get up, especially if a caregiver is not close by. 

Mobility aides

Mobility aids should always be kept close by so your loved one can have them whenever they need them. Easy access allows them to move around more safely and independently, helping them maintain a sense of control and dignity throughout the day.

Electronic devices 

Electronic devices like cell phones should always be within reach in case of emergencies. Having a reliable way to communicate can offer peace of mind to your loved one and to you as a caregiver. 

Comfort items 

Comfort items like blankets, pillows, and other essentials should always be close by in case your loved one needs them. Like mobility aids, it reduces the need for your loved one to get up by themselves to reach something. 

Northern Illinois Hospice is here to provide compassionate end-of-life care 

At Northern Illinois Hospice, we know how important it is to keep your loved one safe at home. Our hospice care team can help you create a safe environment without limiting your loved one’s independence. 

As the first hospice provider in the region, Northern Illinois Hospice has been helping people transition to hospice care for more than 45 years. Our team provides compassionate end-of-life care to individuals with life-limiting illnesses.

We honor patients and their wishes by providing specialized care that treats the person, not the disease. We offer a wide range of palliative and hospice care to improve your loved one’s quality of life in their final months.

Our experienced team of healthcare professionals, social workers, and volunteers is here to ensure your loved one’s comfort and support.

Get support with The Reading Room

Since hospice care has so much to offer patients, families, and providers, it can be confusing at times. That’s why we created The Reading Room.

The Reading Room is a special place where people can learn and grow in their understanding of hospice and palliative care, anytime and anywhere. It’s like having a whole library in the palm of your hand or with a click of your mouse. With dozens of articles and helpful how-to videos in both English and Spanish, The Reading Room can serve as a helpful guide. 

To learn more about our palliative or hospice services or how we can help you navigate end-of-life care for your loved ones, call us today at (815) 398-0500.