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Tips for safer caring
Carers face many safety issues depending on the needs and conditions of the person they care for. The following general guidelines may help you deal with some of the most common problems.
- If the person you care for has problems getting around
- If the person you care for needs to be lifted
- If the person you care for is confused
- If the person you care for is aggressive
- If the person you care for has memory loss
- If the person you care for has problems with their hearing
- If the person you care for has problems with their sight
If the person you care for has problems getting around
- Arrange for a physiotherapist to assess the person for suitable walking aids.
- Equipment such as rails and ramps and other home alterations may make the home safer for you both.
- Arrange furniture simply and consistently and keep the environment uncluttered.
- Remove loose rugs and seal carpet edges that may be trip hazards.
If the person you care for needs to be lifted
Lifting and transferring a person, for example from a chair to bed, is a complex task, making back injuries a common concern for carers. To make sure you’re lifting the correct way:- ask the health care workers you normally deal with to arrange an assessment of your circumstances, and
- ask an occupational therapist, physiotherapist or community nurse to help you work out a safe way to lift or transfer the person you care for.
If the person you care for is confused
- Try not to make any changes to a familiar environment unless absolutely necessary.
- Consider having medications checked as this can be a common cause of confusion.
- Use notice boards and reminder notes to list the things that are happening or need remembering.
- Nightlights in the hallways and in the toilet may be useful to assist a person to find their way to the bathroom.
- Easy-to-read clocks and large calendars can be helpful reminders of the time and date.
If the person you care for is aggressive
- Make sure that all professionals involved with the person you care for know of any aggressive behaviour.
- Always look to protect yourself from aggressive outbursts in advance, if at all possible. Plan for safe places in the house to protect yourself or plan to leave the house if this is the safer alternative for you.
- Try to have locks on at least some rooms in the house.
- As much as possible, remove or hide any items in the house that could be used to hurt you. Cupboards with locks, especially in the kitchen and bathroom can help.
- Outbursts that occur in public can be especially difficult as many onlookers will not understand the situation. Try not to be affected by ill-informed comments and advice.
- Look after yourself after an aggressive outburst as well as during it. Seek support from someone you trust to talk about the incident.
- Seek professional advice for ways to manage the aggression. Your doctor or community nurse can advise you who to contact – and remember that aggression can include verbal as well as physical abuse.
If the person you care for has memory loss
- It’s important that they carry appropriate identification at all times, including their name and address and an emergency contact number – an identity bracelet is ideal.
- Some home modifications and equipment such as automatic cut offs for hot water jugs and other appliances can be helpful.
- A communication book by the phone or somewhere handy can provide a list of what’s happening and who’s been to visit.
- Commonly used numbers can be displayed near the phone.
If the person you care for has problems with their hearing
- Make sure that hearing aids are functioning and being used effectively.
- Install visual smoke detectors in the house.
- Investigate other visual alerts such as alarm clocks and front door alerts.
- Install assistive-listening devices such as volume-controlled phones that can be used together with hearing aids so the person you care for can contact others in an emergency.
If the person you care for has problems with their sight
- Leave all items as they were left. If something has to be moved, tell the person where it has been placed.
- Be especially careful when the house is being cleaned. Vacuum cords, wet floors and a mop and bucket are all potential hazards.
- Shut doors completely or leave them fully open. A half-open door is a hazard.
- Furniture should be replaced exactly in the position it was found to avoid accidents and aid mobility. Power points, blinds and lights should be left in the same position as they were found.
Common questions on this topic:
- The home has rung to say I need to buy a helmet for mum to wear as she is continually having falls. I don't know whether this is good practice or not - how can I get more information and find out if the home is doing the right thing?
- My mother is going into high-level dementia care and as a her main carer I would like to be an active participant in her care. How do I go about doing this?
See all common questions