It may seem that just yesterday your parents were on the sidelines jumping up and down while cheering you on while you were involved in high school sports, or insisting that you get out of bed early on a Saturday morning to go for a long hike them them. Now, it seems that they are not quite as active as they use to be and perhaps they are even having problems getting around. When the day comes that your parents simply can not get up and go like they use to, use a home safety checklist to make sure their home is safe, even if you have to be sneaky about it.
A home safety checklist is made to ensure there are no hazards that can cause your parents injury. This includes things inside the house as well as outside. One of the biggest things you can look for is the rugs in the home. Any area rugs are hazards for anyone, but they are especially hard on those that are elderly. If these are not secured down correctly, they can be tripping hazards. Have them removed or find a way to secure them so your parents are not falling down because one has bunched or rolled in their home.
Items used to get in and out of things in the home are also high on any home safety checklist. If they are having problems with mobility, they need help getting in and out of the tub, up and down from the toilet, and even getting up and down stairs safely. There are special bars that can be installed in any of these areas that they can use to steady themselves if they need to do so. There are also alternatives to regular showers or tubs that you can have put into their home if this would offer them some safety will still allowing them their independence.
Check their home for safe entrances and exits. Make sure doors swing freely so that they do not have to tug on them to open them. Any home safety checklist will also tell you that if there are exterior steps that the home occupants use often, they should have some type of anti-skid material put on them. Wood can be especially dangerous when it is wet. If you live in a cooler climate in which you get a lot of ice and snow in the winter, clear these things for them or hire someone to do it.
Smaller things also appear on a home safety checklist for any home. This might include things that make a home safe for toddlers, elderly, disabled, or even just accident prone people. Not only should you make sure your parents are okay, make sure your home is safe as well. You may be young and healthy still, but there is no sense in having a stupid accident that could have been easily avoided by making sure your home is safe and secure in all the tiny but important ways you will find on such a checklist.