Making Your Elderly Relatives Home Safe And Secure

When your well loved relatives start those twilight years, we start to worry that about their safety. Mobility issues are a very common problem. Their balance is dramatically affected, and the possibility of falling becomes a very real prospect. One of the problems is that more often than not, your elderly relatives think they can do exactly what they used to do twenty years ago but, sadly that’s not the case.

From a personal point of view, this has happened to me in regard to my mother. She has unfortunately become very unsteady on her feet and walking without some sort of support has become a necessity. With all this in mind, I have decided it is time to make her home as safe as possible. There are of course many simple things I can do which will enable her to get around her home inside and outside safely.

Here are a couple of improvements you can make to your elderly relatives home that will make it a much more safe and secure environment for them.

1. Handrails outside the property

This is easily the first job you should be doing to keep your elderly relatives safe. Handrails outside the property are absolutely vital. It could be, as in my mother’s case, that they have a very long drive or steps that lead into the garden. These are places where most older people are likely to have a fall.

The best type of handrail outside the property is a fully galvanised iron tube. The reason being is that they are sturdy, strong and won’t rust or become unstable. Of course you will need to join the tubular handrails, and the perfect solution for this is to use key clamps. Key clamps come in a vast range of angles and types so creating your handrail outside the property won’t be a problem, even if you have to go around corners to continue the handrail.

A handrail will also be very important for her to get into her back garden. There are a few steps right outside her back door so a handrail on either side of these steps will give her the security she needs to enter her garden and enjoy those hot summer days.

The key clamps are very easy to fit and any DIY enthusiast will easily be able to fit them. All you need is an allen key to tighten the clamp into position.

While browsing the internet for supplies of key clamps, I came across DC Iron. They have a vast range of tubular rails and key clamps. In addition, they have an excellent next day delivery service as long as you order before 2pm or a pick up service in 1 hour.

2. Fencing

Many elderly relatives will live alone so it’s very important that the property is secure from any intruders and, as is the case for my mother, her back garden is a bit isolated.

So my plan is to put up a secure fence that would be very difficult for any intruders to get over.

I will be installing a fence using key clamps because I know once constructed it offers a very safe environment for my mums back garden. More importantly, it will last many years for her.

So these are couple of ideas that will help your elderly relatives to still have the freedom to get out and about in their home.

Have you made any home improvements that make your elderly relatives home a safer place? I would love to hear in the comments below.