Bedroom Safety for Seniors with Alzheimer’s Disease
For a senior with Alzheimer’s disease, nighttime can be scary and a little bit odd. The house is quiet and dark and she may find it more difficult than during the day to remember how to do certain things. As her caregiver, you can take some steps to help her to feel and to be safer at night.
Caregiver in Glenview IL: Bedroom Safety for Seniors with Alzheimer’s
Put Night Lights in Place.
If your elderly family member wakes up and is confused or agitated, being unable to see well is going to complicate the entire situation. It’s a good idea to install a night light or two in her bedroom. You don’t need them to be bright, because you don’t want to interfere with her ability to sleep. They do need to be bright enough to see in the middle of the night, though.
Prepare for Reasons Your Senior Might Need to Get out of Bed.
Once your senior is in bed, she might still have some needs that she didn’t fully realize. She might find that she’s thirsty, or that she’s hurting, or that she needs the bathroom. The best solution is to try to anticipate her most common needs and then develop a bedtime routine that takes those into account. Then you can deal with one-off situations more readily.
Consider a Monitor.
Leaving a monitor in your senior’s bedroom can help you to determine when she needs your help. She might not be able to call out loudly enough to you for you to hear her, but a monitor can amplify her call. You can also hear if she should fall or start to moan or make other noises that can alert you to trouble.
Consider Bed Rails.
Some aging adults have difficulty getting out of bed or they might worry that they’ll fall out of bed. Both issues can be resolved with bed rails that easily attach to the bed. Some even slide between the mattress and the box spring without any need of additional hardware.
Reduce Clutter and Other Tripping Hazards.
Even with a night light, clutter can be a huge problem for your aging adult. Do everything that you can to reduce clutter, particularly on the floor. If rugs are slippery or could be a tripping hazard, it’s best to remove them or to replace them with a better option.
Preparing for these situations can help your aging adult to avoid a fall or other possible problems. If you find that you’re losing sleep managing your senior’s nighttime issues, you might want to consider hiring elder care providers for overnight shifts. That can help you get the sleep you need so you can do what needs to be done during the day.
If you or an aging loved one are considering caregiver services in Glenview, IL, contact the caring staff at Companion Services of America today at (847) 943-3786. Our home care service area includes Northbrook, Highland Park, Deerfield, Glenview, Buffalo Grove, Evanston, Des Plaines, Skokie, Lake Forest, Wilmette and the surrounding areas.
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