Find an occupational therapist
If they haven’t already, you might suggest to the person or their family that they arrange a free home assessment from an occupational therapist. This would typically involve the occupational therapist visiting their home to recommend adaptations to make their environment safer and more comfortable.
An occupational therapist can be accessible through the NHS or social services. It’s worth encouraging the person or their family to speak to their GP in the first instance or contact their local council and ask for an assessment.
A GP may need to refer them to an occupational therapist, or the person can visit their local council’s website to find out if they can access occupational therapy.
Useful safety and mobility aids
Occupational therapists may recommend items to reduce the risk of falls, such as handrails for the stairs, shower stools, walking frames, stair lifts, and other mobility aids.
Minor adaptations costing less than £1000, like handrails, may be paid for by the person’s local council. Larger items like stairlifts or walk-in baths are not usually covered. The person may be eligible for a grant, so it’s worth encouraging their family members to speak with their GP or the local council in the first instance to see what’s possible.
In the meantime, here are some easy ways to make the person’s home safer:
• Remove potential trip hazards such as rugs and frayed mats.
• If the person agrees it’s OK, reduce clutter in their home and keep a clear pathway in each room. This will reduce the risk of the person bumping into furniture.
• Make sure the person has suitable footwear and not loose slippers or slippery socks on wooden floors.
Key things to check for
Other things that can be easily checked to improve safety include:
Lighting – is it sufficient? Is each room well-lit?
Windows – do they open too far? Is there any risk of the person falling out?
Protruding furniture
Flammable materials
Electrical connections
Smoke detectors – have the batteries been changed lately?
Observe how the person reacts
Floor tiles in kitchens and bathrooms can cause confusion. Square white and black floor tiles may cause distress as the person may think the black tiles are black holes. These may need to be replaced or at least covered.
Check fridges and cupboards
Keep an eye on items in the fridge and cupboards, and discard any out-of-date foods. The person may be confused about which items belong in the fridge and freezer, so keep an eye on both. Put toxic cleaning products in a locked cupboard.
Be wary of portable heaters
Where heating is concerned, portable heaters could be left on by accident or the person could trip over them. Instead of using these, set the central heating to a comfortable temperature.
How to make the bathroom safer
Encourage the person or their family members to remove bathmats, which can be easy to trip over. Put a free-standing toilet roll holder next to the toilet so that the person doesn’t have to stretch to reach it. If the person has mobility issues, they may want to get a shower stool.
Lock away medications
The person with dementia may become confused about their medication. They should not be left to take tablets unsupervised as they may forget they have already taken their medication or may take the wrong medication. Lock away medication in a safe or secure storage box.
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