How to prevent falls in your Yakima home
Sliding on an unanchored rug or catching your foot on an electrical cord could seem minor to many, but these mishaps can be catastrophic for seniors. In reality, falls are the No. 1 cause of injury for people over 65. If you are a senior or a family member watching over a parent or grandparent, discover how to prevent falls in your Yakima home, and see how modern smart home features can boost safety.
Simple tips to prevent falls
Straightforward precautions will make a big difference in keeping you or a loved one safeguarded. With that being said, you also have to broaden your scope and consider any medical-related issues that could increase the chance of falls.
- Look for hazards throughout your home. Keep deliveries, papers, clothing, and other assorted belongings off the floors. Anchor rugs. Ensure walkways are free of power cords.
- Install safety measures. Simple home improvements like safety bars in bathrooms and handrails beside stairs can significantly enhance safety. If you have steps, think about supplementing your handrails with slip-preventing treads.
- Choose sensible shoes. Unsupportive slippers, heels, flip-flops, and worn-down shoes with no tread left raise the risk of falling. Choose options that fit well with good support and non-slip soles.
Get advice from a healthcare professional
Aside from the simple precautions like keeping items off your floors, you need to consider your health and get advice from a doctor. Several medical conditions and medicines can elevate your fall risk. Keep your routine checkups and vision exams, and make certain you understand the potential side effects of your prescriptions.
Keeping active is also important to maintain your balance, strength, and flexibility. Keep to a daily exercise plan approved by your doctor. While exercise is essential, you can also cut out unnecessary movements and make your life more convenient with a smart home.
Boost convenience and safety with a smart home
Getting up and down constantly to adjust lights, lock your door, or change your thermostat isn’t necessary. A smart home can help! Here’s what you can do:
- Mobile access: Top smart homes can be operated by mobile apps. You can adjust lighting and thermostat settings, lock your doors, and even arm your system without leaving your chair.
- Voice control: You don’t even need a smartphone to control your devices! Sync your system to a smart speaker like Google Home or Amazon Alexa, then just verbalize a command to control devices like locks and lights.
- Home automation. Want to make life even easier? You can set home automation actions and let your devices activate on their own. Set a full scene at day’s end and have your security arm, thermostat update, door lock, and lights dim on their own.
In the rare event that you fall, a medical device that contacts your smart home monitoring agents can be invaluable. A quick press of a button can get you support right away at times when each moment matters.
Stay safe in your Yakima home with Vivint
Lower the chances of falling and live smarter with a Vivint home security system in Yakima. Smart home tools like home automation and voice commands are a great fit for seniors and other residents with mobility limitations. Add a medical alert to your system and get quick access to monitoring agents when you need it most. Dial (509) 790-6958 to build your system today.