Tips for an Elderly Parent Visit

Tips for an Elderly Parent Visit

Expecting a visit from an elderly parent? Wondering how to prepare? 

Here are a few suggestions to consider, as needed, depending on their specific needs:

  1. Fall prevention - remove loose rugs that might be a tripping hazard, clear main hallways and staircases, and obtain a walker (a rollator walker with a seat can be very helpful)
  2. Bathroom safety - install a raised toilet seat and/or shower grab bar, arrange for a shower chair, if necessary, have a short and clear path to the bathroom, and consider a bedside urinal or commode, if needed
  3. Sitting down - for ease of sitting down and getting up, designate chairs with arms for seated activities, such as dining or watching TV, or for getting dressed after showering
  4. Diminishing eyesight - make sure that remote controls and other buttons or instructions have large font sizes or are marked with contrasting bright colors
  5. Climbing stairs - if climbing stairs becomes unfeasible or unsafe, consider using a separate section of the main floor, a chairlift (mounted on a staircase), or an elevator (see Staircase Alternatives: https://www.myfamilydashboard.com/blogs/news/staircase-alternatives)  

Read more about home safety tips from AARP: https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/home-care/info-2019/safety-tips.html. 

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