Fire Proofing Your Home For Seniors

Seniors are at a higher risk for certain home emergencies than others due to reduced mobility or memory loss issues. One of the most potentially hazardous situations is a house fire, which can be easily prevented by taking some precautions at home.

For some seniors, ensuring that their home is fire-proof may be a difficult challenge so family members and caregivers should assist them with more difficult tasks.

Go over what to do in case of fire on a regular basis with your elderly family member, making sure that he or she knows which escape route is quickest and most accessible, and ensure that all fire escape routes are clear of obstructions.

KITCHEN:

Remove any flammable materials from areas close to heat sources (e.g.: hand towels)
If appliances are old, considering replacing them with newer ones that have built-in automatic shutoff features
Have a small fire extinguisher in an easy-to-grab location and make sure you elderly family member knows how to use it

GENERAL

Update batteries in all fire alarms regularly (check your fire alarm to see how often they need to be changed) – the United States Fire Administration says working smoke detectors double the chances of surviving a fire
Create a fire escape plan with your senior family member and be sure to practice with them; if they have memory issues, have printed copies of the escape routes located in every room
Consider acquiring a fire alarm system that alerts the fire department when activated 

LIVING ROOM

Check your wiring – older homes tend to have problems handling higher voltage use as they contain fuse systems designed to handle less voltage; updating electrical wiring to a circuit breaker with at least 100-ampere service can reduce the chance of a fire and lower insurance premiums, too
Throw out frayed or damaged cords
Do not overload outlets
Have a professional electrician come and inspect your house for potential dangers
Make sure three-pronged plugs are used in three-hole outlets or adapters, and see that all outlets have cover plates

OUTSIDE

Make sure the roof of the house is fire proof – older houses may have roofs made of flammable material
Remove unnecessary flammable materials from your garage – old paints, batteries and other items that have expired their shelf life or are unused can be removed and discarded as they are fire bait

BATHROOM

Keep bathroom electrics (razors, blow-dryers, etc) as far from water as possible; set up a shelf area to store them away from tubs and toilets

BEDROOM

Keep your heating system in good working order; check your furnace once a year
Seniors typically have problems staying warm – be sure to keep space heaters safe a distance from the bed (that is, not in contact with any part of the bed and far enough that if a pillow or blanket were to fall, it would not come close to the heater)

As with any safety issue, be sure to keep things up to date (batteries, alarms, etc) and consult professionals if you are unsure about anything. Electricians, plumbers and other experts ought to be contacted for any work that you are unfamiliar with or unable to complete.

By taking a few simple precautionary steps, you can insure a safe and happy independent lifestyle for your senior family member!

Ron Bodnar is the general manager of Senior Monitoring and writes for the blog. At Senior Monitoring, we ensure 24/7 access to certified EMTs at the press of button! Check out our senior monitoring testimonials to learn what customers are saying about our services!

By: Ron Bodnar

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