Safety at home begins with adapting the environment to support the person with Alzheimer's changing abilities. Be sure to re-evaluate home safety measures regularly as new issues may arise.

Evaluate your environment

A person with dementia may be at risk in certain areas of the home or outdoors. Pay special attention to garages, work rooms, basements and outside areas.

• Be sure to always have working fire extinguishers, smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in the house. Test them regularly to make sure they will operate in an emergency.
  
  
• Lock or disguise hazardous areas. Cover doors and locks with a painted mural or cloth. Use swinging or folding doors to hide entrances to the kitchen, stairwell or garage.
  
  
• Install locks out of sight. Place deadbolts either high or low on exterior doors to make it difficult for the person to wander out of the house.
  
  
• Remove locks in bathrooms or bedrooms so the person cannot get locked inside.
  
  
• Use child-proof locks and door knob covers to limit access to places where knives, appliances and poisonous cleaning fluids are stored.
  
  
• Enroll the person in MedicAlert + Alzheimer's Association Safe Return®, a 24-hour nationwide emergency response service for individuals with Alzheimer's or related dementia that wander or who have a medical emergency.

Beware of dangerous objects and substances

Even the most basic appliance or household object can be dangerous. particularly for a person with dementia. Be sure to take precautions that will ensure these items do not become safety hazards.

• Use appliances that have an auto shut-off feature. Keep them away from water sources (e.g., kitchen and bathroom sinks).
  
  
• Install a hidden gas valve or circuit breaker on the stove so a person with dementia cannot turn it on. Or, consider removing the knobs from the burner.
  
  
• Store grills, lawn mowers, power tools, knives and fire arms and cleaning products in a secure place.
  
  
• Discard toxic plants and decorative fruits that may be mistaken for real food.
  
  
• Remove vitamins, prescription drugs, sugar substitutes and seasonings from the kitchen tables and counters. Medications should be kept in a locked area at all times.
  
  
• Supervise the use of tobacco and alcohol. Both may have harmful side effects and may interact dangerously with some medications. A person with dementia who smokes should not be left alone; a forgotten cigarette left burning could start a fire.

Avoid injury during daily activities

Most accidents in the home occur during daily activities such as eating, bathing and using the restroom. Take special precautions at these times.

• Watch the temperature of water and food - it may be difficult to tell the difference between hot and cold.
  
  
• Install walk-in showers and grab bars in the shower or tub and at the edge of the vanity to allow for independent, safe movement.
  
  
• Add textured stickers to slippery surfaces. Apply adhesives to keep thaw rugs and carpeting in place - or remove rugs completely.

Adapt to vision limitations

Dementia sometimes makes it difficult for a person to tell between colors and understand what he or she sees because of changes in vision.

• Use contrasting colored rugs in front of doors or steps to help the individual anticipate staircases and room entrances. Avoid using a dark-colored rug because it may appear to be a "hole."
  
  
• Remove throw rugs altogether to reduce the likelihood of tripping if the person has difficulty walking, or uses a cane or walker.
  
  
• Create an even level of lighting by adding extra lights to entries, outside landings, areas between rooms, stairways and bathrooms.
  
  
• Use night lights in hallways, bedrooms and bathrooms.

Firearm safety

If you have a firearm in the house there are special precautions you will need to take. Tragic consequences have occurred when a person with dementia didn't recognize a spouse or relative, but thought he or she was a burglar and fired.

• Keep firearms in a locked cabinet, firearm vault, safe or storage case.
  
  
• Lock ammunition in a place separate from firearms.
  
  
• Exercise full control and supervision over firearms at all times.
  
  
• Ask for help from local law enforcement if you are unfamiliar with firearm safety or if you choose to discard the weapon.
  
  
• Unload firearms when not in use.
  
  
• Remove the firearm from the living space.

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