Protecting Your Aging Parent from Outdoor Holiday Season Dangers

By Jennifer Benjamin | December 9, 2016 | Comments Off on Protecting Your Aging Parent from Outdoor Holiday Season Dangers

Home Care in Dix Hills NY

The holiday season is a fun and joyous time, but it can also pose a variety of potential dangers for your aging loved one. In your role as their family caregiver it is important for you to recognize these dangers so that you can take steps to resolve them or to help your parent avoid them so that they are able to enjoy the season safely.Home-Care-in-Dix-Hills-NY

 

Some of the outdoor holiday season dangers that might occur include:

  • Cords on the walkway. Filling your parent’s lawn with inflatables, lights, and other decorations might be a fun way to usher in the season and show off their festive spirit, but it can also mean cords stretching across walkways and porches. This can be very dangerous for an elderly adult, especially one with compromised mobility or balance. Avoid putting anything across a walkway, but if you must position them this way, tape them down and cover them with an outdoor carpet to create a more level walking area for your parent.
  • Obstructed walkways. When planning your parent’s outdoor holiday decorations, avoid placing anything in areas where they usually walk. Something as small as a potted Christmas tree or a statue on the front porch or at the end of the walkway can obstruct your parent’s path and make it more difficult for them to navigate these areas confidently. They may also reach out for these items in search of additional support and knock them over, potentially causing a devastating fall.
  • Light problems. Low vision is one of the most common issues of older adulthood and it can cause a variety of serious risks, including increased potential for falls. Changing the amount of lighting in your parent’s area can increase this issue. If you are stringing lights outside of your parent’s home or using illuminated decorations, make sure that the lights do not create potentially confusing patterns or areas of shadow on walkways or porches, as these might disorient or confuse your parent, or cause them to step where they shouldn’t, possibly putting them at risk of tripping, slipping, or falling.

 

Starting home care for your aging loved one can be a fantastic way to ensure that both of you are able to enjoy the holiday season more and head forward into the new year with more confidence. The highly personalized services of an in-home senior care services provider are specifically tailored to your aging loved one’s individual needs, challenges, and limitations, as well as their personality, lifestyle, and goals. This care provider also designs their schedule and their efforts for your parent based on what you do for them on a regular basis, meaning that your remain at the forefront of your parent’s care and are able to have peace of mind knowing that whether you are able to be with them or not, your senior is getting everything that they need to remain comfortable, happy, safe, and healthy throughout their later years. When it comes to protecting them from outdoor dangers that might arise during the holiday season, this care provider can help your parent recognize and understand the risks, provide physical support and assistance to avoid them, and encourage good lifestyle practices to keep them safer and more secure throughout the season.

 

If you or an aging loved one are considering home care in Dix Hills, NY, please contact the caring staff at Family First Home Companions. Serving all of Long Island. Call today: (631) 319-3961

 

Jennifer Benjamin
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