Nighttime Safety Tips for Seniors Living Alone

If you have an elderly loved one who lives alone, they may be at a higher risk of a fall. Elderly people may have health issues that cause mobility problems, like poor eyesight, high blood pressure, cognitive impairment, or poor balance. They may also be taking medication that causes side effects that can make living alone dangerous.

Plus, as people age, they lose muscle mass and experience changes in bone density that can make a trip, fall, or accident more likely. Nighttime is the most dangerous time for seniors who live alone, as it is darker and harder to see. Here are some safety tips to manage the risk of a fall at night if you have an elderly relative who lives alone.

Schedule a Home Safety Evaluation

Your loved one’s home may have hidden dangers that you’re not even aware of. A home safety evaluation is a professional assessment of the home’s interior and exterior. The goal is to identify potential hazards and safety issues so that you can make improvements.

Your evaluator will go through every area of the home using a home safety checklist. When they are done, they will give you a detailed report outlining the issues they found. They will also offer remedies, such as installing safety bars, improving lighting, and making repairs. A safety evaluation is the best first step toward reducing the risk of a nighttime fall.

Upgrade Lighting and Install Night Lights

Poor lighting can decrease visibility and increase the risk of a fall. Replace light bulbs with energy-efficient LED bulbs that are a higher wattage. LED bulbs emit less heat and use less energy and are a much lower fire hazard risk, so it’s safe to use a higher wattage to improve visibility.

You should also install night lights in commonly used areas of the home, such as the bathroom, bedroom, hallways, stairs, and kitchen. If possible, use smart night lights or a light timer so that the lights go on automatically at dusk.

Integrate Smart Lighting Inside and Outside

You should also integrate smart lighting options throughout the inside and outside of the home. Stretching to reach light switches or knobs or bending down to turn lights on and off can increase the risk of a fall, especially for someone who has mobility issues or a medical condition. Smart lighting or smart bulbs can be controlled using a smartphone app, remote, or even voice activation if they are connected to a smart home system.

You can program them to turn on and off at specific times, and your loved one can also turn them on and off as needed using their voice, the remote, or their app. Install smart lights in each room as well as on the porch, along pathways, in the garage or carport, and any other areas your loved one might go in the evening.

Install Safety Bars and Railings

The risk of a fall increases if your loved one has to go up and down stairs or across uneven walking surfaces. Install railings along any stairs or steps and in areas where the risk of a fall increases. You should also install safety bars in areas where your loved one will need to get up and down from a sitting or lying position, such as by their bed, next to the toilet, and in the bathtub or shower.

Remove Trip Hazards

If your loved one’s home is cluttered, they are more likely to trip and fall at night. Their risk increases if they use a mobility aid or have a hard time seeing or walking. Go through the home and remove or relocate any trip hazards in walking areas, such as:

Extension cords
Area rugs
Piles of clothing or shoes
Baskets or boxes
Low furniture like side tables or end tables

Make It Easier to Get In and Out of Bed

Getting in and out of bed at night can be very difficult for someone who has health problems or reduced upper body strength. It’s easy for an elderly person to fall as they try to get into or out of their bed. You can consult with a certified aging in place specialist or elder care specialist about how to improve the safety of your loved one’s bed. They may recommend installing safety bars next to the bed or using a bed that has railings.

Install a Home Security System

A home security system can reduce the risk of a break-in as well as notify you and first responders if your loved one wanders out of the home at night. If your loved one has Alzheimer’s or dementia, they may be more likely to leave the home at strange hours, which can be very dangerous.

Set up a home monitoring system or alarm that sends an alert to your phone if a door or window is opened. This will ensure you get timely warning if your loved one has left the house or if someone else has entered.

Use Wearable Fall Alert or Medical Alert Devices

Wearable safety devices can significantly improve response time if your loved one does fall or injure themselves. They are worn on the wrist or around the neck and will either detect a fall and notify first responders or have a button that can be pressed in an emergency to notify the police. Some can be monitored remotely and send medical and health information to trusted family members as well as your loved one’s physician.

Check In With Your Loved One Regularly

You and your family should make a sustained effort to check in with your loved one regularly. Stop by for a visit, come over to make them a meal, or call them each day to make sure they are okay. While that may seem excessive, if your loved one lives alone and does have an accident, it’s important that someone find out as quickly as possible. One way to make sure that you’re aware of your loved one’s daily needs and safety is to check in frequently.

Hire an In-Home Caregiver

Another important way to keep your loved one safe if they live alone is to hire an in-home caregiver. Some caregivers can provide respite care so that family caregivers can take a break. Others provide daily scheduled care and companionship or can be hired for overnight care or even 24/7 care. You and your loved one can discuss their needs and health and determine what caregiving services are appropriate.

Call Placita In Home Care for Home Care Services

At Placita In Home Care, our goal is to help you improve your loved one’s safety in the home. We offer home safety evaluations and a wide range of home care services, including assistance with the tasks of daily living, medication management, meal preparation, light housekeeping, transportation, dementia care and Alzheimer’s care, and mobility assistance.

We can ensure your loved one is safe when getting in and out of bed, to and from the toilet, and while bathing and getting dressed. We also offer companionship so that your loved one will not feel lonely or isolated. Our services and schedule can be tailored to your specific needs. To schedule a consultation for in-home care in the Tucson or Phoenix metro area, call us today or fill out our contact form online.