When it comes to creating a safe home environment for a person with Alzheimer’s, there’s no single foolproof solution. The changes you make in your loved one’s home, or in your own, will need to be adapted for the unique needs, traits and struggles of the person you’re caring for. What’s more, those adaptations will keep evolving as the disease progresses, and your loved one’s capabilities continue to change.
Still, a few general guidelines will prove useful throughout every stage of care. Your overall goal is to create a home environment that remains familiar and engaging to the person in your care, while supporting them through the unique difficulties presented by the disease. That means the home needs to be physically safe, easy to navigate, and free from sights and sounds that might confuse or upset your loved one.
Here, we’ll break the most important adaptations into five crucial categories, and provide practical tips for optimizing your home environment in each of these areas.
1. Secure potential safety hazards throughout the home.
2. Introduce memory aids for daily activities.
3. Remove items that could startle or confuse your loved one.
4. Accommodate limitations in physical mobility.
5. Make sure the home environment is easy and safe to navigate.
1. Secure potential safety hazards throughout the home.
The person you’re caring for will probably want to continue their usual routine of handling household chores, running errands, preparing meals and so on. In the early stages of Alzheimer’s, it’s great to encourage a sense of independence, which will support your loved one’s mental health, and can even slow the onset of dementia.
However, as the disease progresses, you’ll need to take more proactive steps to prevent your loved one from injuring themselves due to a lapse in coordination or judgment. Lock up (or remove) knives and other cutting implements, as well as sharp tools, toxic chemicals, and fire hazards like space heaters. People in the later stages of Alzheimer’s often mistake household plants and food-shaped objects for actual food, so it’s a good idea to get rid of those, too.
You’ll also want to adjust your thermostats to automatically shut off water above 120 degrees Fahrenheit — and add stove knob covers to prevent burns and fires. Check regularly to make sure the house’s smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are in working order, along with any personal alert devices your loved one carries. In the later stages of dementia, especially, a baby monitor system can also be helpful for preventing injuries before they occur.
2. Introduce memory aids for daily activities.
Although it’s helpful to give your loved one as much day-to-day independence as is practical, they may be reluctant to admit that their memory needs a little extra help. Calendars and clocks can be useful for helping them keep track of the date and time, particularly in the early stages — while dosette boxes (pill boxes with daily compartments) will help keep their medication schedule on track.
An easy-to-find whiteboard can be a major help for managing to-do lists, and keeping track of names and numbers. Many people with early-stage Alzheimer’s find it helpful to place sticky notes around the house, reminding them to turn off lights, lock doors, and return items to their usual storage locations. If the person in your care is comfortable using electronics, devices like phones and tablets can provide all sorts of automated reminders — and help you and your loved one keep track of their location and destination when they’re out of the house.
3. Remove items that could startle or confuse your loved one.
As Alzheimer’s progresses into its later stages, the person you’re caring for may be easily startled and upset by sudden noises. If the home where you’re caring for them is situated in a busy area, it may be helpful to install soundproofing — or, at the very least, keep doors and windows closed. Take notice of any unusually loud alarm clocks, televisions and radios, and consider replacing them with quieter alternatives.
People with middle- and late-stage Alzheimer’s can often be disturbed by reflections in mirrors, so these may also be worth removing from the home. Many caregivers also find it helpful to place decals on windows and other transparent barriers, to prevent a person with Alzheimer’s from unintentionally walking into the glass. Make sure the home is evenly lit, and free of densely patterned fabrics and wallpapers, which may create visual confusion.
4. Accommodate limitations in physical mobility.
Just as it can be hard for a person with Alzheimer’s to admit they’re struggling with memory, they may also be reluctant to tell you they’re struggling with physical tasks like bathing, getting in and out of bed, and using the restroom. That’s why it’s an excellent idea to spend a full day with the person you’re caring for, keep an eye out for opportunities to help, and reassure them that it’s beneficial to talk openly about these challenges.
On the practical side, you may want to install metal grab bars next to the bed, bath and/or toilet — and handrails at the tops and bottoms of staircases. Anti-slip mats can prevent falls on slippery floors, while easy-grip knobs and handles can make it easier for your loved one to open cabinets, drawers and doors. Make sure essential items are easy to reach, and are placed at a height where your loved one won’t have to stretch too far to access them.
5. Make sure the home environment is easy and safe to navigate.
Many safety issues can be prevented simply by keeping the home clean, well-lit, and free from clutter. Make sure every room and hallway has reasonably bright, evenly distributed lighting — and consider adding nightlights, as well as additional lighting for dim and shadowy areas. Research also shows that timed dimmer switches help support the natural body rhythms of people with Alzheimer’s, and can even reduce anxiety and encourage more restful sleep.
Keep close eye on clutter, and remove newspapers, plastic bags, and other items that could serve as tripping or choking hazards. Remove loose electrical cords from areas where they could cause a fall. And in the later stages of Alzheimer’s, it’s typically a smart idea to remove locking mechanisms from doors, to prevent the person in your care from becoming trapped behind a lock they can’t open.
Remember, your top priority is to preserve your ability to help your loved one, should an emergency arise. That means it’s crucial to keep your own set of keys, in case they lock you out — and to use GPS and other monitoring technologies to make sure you know where they are at all times. In the disease’s later stages, it’s also a good idea to install alarms on doors and windows, so you’re alerted instantly if they try to leave the house unaccompanied.
While this can be a tough reality to face, measures like these may very well save your loved one’s life; or, at the very least, prevent them from injuring themselves. Taking precautions like these may lead to some tense situations — but as your loved one’s need for help increases, you’ll be grateful you took the time to give them a safe and supportive home environment.
