Garage and Yard Safety for Your Elderly Loved One

Home Care in Darien NY

One area that can get overlooked in terms of safety is the garage and exterior of your loved one’s home. Here are some tips for keeping those areas as safe as possible.

Keep Tools Easy to Access

If your loved one does any gardening or needs to access any other types of tools stored in the garage, make sure that she can get to them without having to use a ladder or a step stool. Having to elevate herself can make your loved one more susceptible to falling, which is a huge problem. Use hooks to hang tools along the walls or store them in drawers that are easy to access.

Clearly Label Any Chemicals

Chemicals that aren’t labeled properly can be misused accidentally, whether that’s in the house or in the yard. Keep chemicals in their original containers as much as possible and put labels on sides that don’t have a manufacturer’s label. If you do have to put chemicals into another container, make sure that the new container is clearly marked with the contents and with any other information that might be helpful.

Make Sure There’s Storage Space for Everything

One huge source of problems in a garage is when items are just thrown into the space willy nilly. Make sure that there is proper storage space for everything that your loved one wants to keep in the garage. If there are items that aren’t used often or at all, maybe it’s time to donate them or get rid of them.

Put Tools Away When They’re Not in Use

Once you have a spot for everything, make sure that all tools and other equipment are put in their proper places when they’re not in use. This keeps clutter from building up and also ensures that you and your loved one can find specific tools or other items when they’re needed. Label drawers and hooks so that everyone from your loved one’s home care providers to other family members can tell where to find tools and other equipment.

Do a Yard Sweep

Periodically, it’s a good idea to do a sweep through the yard to see if there is anything that is cluttering the yard or otherwise making the yard unsafe to use. Fix problems as soon as possible after you find them and make sure that your loved one knows if an area is unsafe to use or to visit until you fix it.

Keeping your loved one’s garage and yard safe is just as important as keeping the inside of her home safe.

If you or an aging loved one are considering home care in Darien, NY, contact Star One Home Care and Medical Staffing at 718-733-2222 or 914-362-0899.  Call today!

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Patricia Coffie, RN, BSN, MFA

Director of Client Services at Star One Home Care

Patricia Coffie, RN, BSN, MFA is Director of Client Services & Director of Phoenix Nurse Aide Training Center. Before assuming the post in 2012, Patricia was the Director or Nursing & Service Delivery at WRC for 3 years where she was the strategic lead for nursing and services to members.

Patricia started her nursing career 19 years ago at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and research institution in New York City, and since then has gained experience in Adult Intensive Care Units (ICU) , Pediatric Care (PICU ), Operating Room (OR) , mental health and community settings. She later moved into director of nursing roles, where she obtained extensive experience in leading and developing the nursing profession. She also pioneered good partnership working with other health care organizations, as well as social services, and the wider community.

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