Fire safety for seniors living at home

Aging in place is a desire more seniors have, as they would prefer to remain in the homes they know rather than move into a condo, living facility or even with family members. AARP reports that over the next 18 years, 8,000 people in the U.S. will turn 65 each day. This might also mean the number of seniors who choose to stay at home will also start to skyrocket.

Although many elders are able to age in place with ease, growing older can come with new challenges, some that seniors might not necessarily think about. Some elder Americans might find it difficult to move around while others may not be able to see as well as they used to.

In order to help elders age at home successfully, StopFalls.org recently gave its best advice for fire and burn prevention in the home.

According to the source, seniors living alone should have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in every room. They should also test the alarms each month – if it’s too hard to reach them, elders are advised to call family members or neighbors to perform the test for them. Those who are hard of hearing might want to look for detectors that light up.

When cooking meals, the site suggests elders put on a timer to remind them when their food is done and also to remember to turn off the stove or oven. To avoid confusion if there ever is an emergency, older Americans should make an evacuation plan to get out safely without becoming disoriented.

Those living alone might also benefit from having a medical alert smartwatch, as these wearable devices allow elders to call for help in an instant.