Just when you think your house is the safest haven for your aging parents, it’s not actually always the case. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that accidental falls are one of the major causes of concerns among older people. Such accidents can happen in their very own home, thus, we have created a “home safety checklist” so you can be assured not only of your elderly parents’ safety but everyone else in your home:

Overall Exterior Safety

1. Ensure that the outdoor stair’s handrails are in overall good shape.
2. Doors and windows should have working and effective locks systems.
3. If you must, please install a motion-activated lighting in your yard.
4. Display a sign outdoors that the property has a working home security system to prevent potential burglars from barging into the property.
5. Make sure to arrange a maintenance schedule for your elderly parents’ home, such as snow removal, gutter cleaning, lawn mowing, etc.
6. Make sure to have an area where mail and newspaper can be easily accessed by the elderly.

Overall Interior Safety

• Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors must be 100 percent working.
• Telephones should be easily accessible for the elderly in every room and floor of the house. Better yet, install a cordless phone for easier access. Otherwise, make sure that the telephone wiring is secured near walls.
• Interior stairs should be in overall good shape including the handrails.
• The floor should be free of loose objects that can cause tripping such as rugs, carpets, misplaced furniture, and many more.
• Ensure ample lighting in various parts of the house including hallways, bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, living room, etc.
• Water heaters in the kitchen and bathroom should be in good working condition and set at the right temperature.
• Install grab bars near the bath tub, toilet, and bedroom, as well as an elevated toilet seat if needed.
• Important and frequently-used items in the kitchen, bathroom, and bedrooms should all be within reach.
• Emergency alert systems such as a flashlight, smoke detectors, and the like should all be working properly.

Other Useful Tips on Healthy and Purposeful Aging

As mentioned earlier, we will all get old. Not now, but most probably after a few years or decades. However, that does not mean we don’t have to prepare for old age as early as now. In fact, this time may be the best time to do such.

The following tools for seniors can help you with your planning your senior years or help with your expense management for your elderly parents:

• Fidelity

This tool will help you plan for retirement or your future expenses and help you build a sound investment strategy. Create your financial goal and align it with your investment strategy. You can also revise your financial plan if needed.

• calculators.org

The site contains various calculators that can aid healthy aging. There are calculators that can help assess your or your elderly parent’s mental health, physical health, and even an “elderly abuse risk assessment”. However, it is still advisable to consult a qualified medical personnel for any health problems.

• This retirement savings calculator

This so-called “retirement readiness calculator” can help you determine how long your intended retirement savings will last.

Do you think the above tips are useful? Did we miss anything that should be included in the list? Do you have other suggestions that you think can be useful as well? Let us know in the comments. You can also connect with other users via our Finance forum and Finance directory.