Many accidents and falls in and around the house occur in the bedroom and attic. As a result, many seniors are admitted to hospital in the Netherlands every year. The attic stairs are a leg-breaker for the elderly. In many cases, a fixed staircase to the attic proves to be a good investment, especially for elderly people who want to live at home for as long as possible. A safe baby and children’s room has many aspects. For example, never place the crib right next to the heater (or heating pipes). Secure windows and electrical outlets. Door buffers are also a great invention to prevent the little ones’ fingers from getting trapped in the door.
Contents
- Home automation for the elderly
- Safe and functionally furnished children’s room
- Lighting and electric blanket (seniors)
- Furniture and attic
- About cribs, cuddly toys and pillows
- Windows, doors and sockets
Home automation for the elderly
A safer home thanks to home automation , or electronics for the home such as automatic lighting and secured cooking equipment (timers). Home automation is supporting technology that allows seniors to continue living in their familiar environment for longer. For example, it would be a solution for many elderly people living at home if dimmed or non-dimmed lights turned on automatically when they got out of bed at night. Or electronics that ensure that the curtains open and close automatically. Or a camera at the door so that people can see the person who rings the doorbell.
Source: Efraimstochter, Pixabay
Self-reliance
Home automation has numerous applications that make the lives of the elderly easier and safer. Ultimately, similar home automation standard solutions will become available in all new-build homes for the living room, bedroom, kitchen and all other living areas. And that can only benefit the self-reliance of seniors.
Safe and functionally furnished children’s room
As soon as a child starts crawling, rest is over. Then everything has to be thought of. From stair gates to protective plates for sockets , dangerous tablecloths and fingers that can get trapped between doors. Not to mention the dangers in the kitchen. The safety of young children in the bedroom starts with the furnishings. Choose furniture, including the crib, that meets current quality requirements. Do not give children under the age of twelve months a pillow, postpone its use as long as possible.
Choking hazard
Don’t put too many cuddly toys in the crib . The risk of suffocation then only increases. As children grow up, they start climbing and scrambling. Make sure that toddlers and preschoolers cannot open the window themselves. So do not place furniture under windows. There are many things that one should pay attention to as a ‘starting’ parent. The tips below for seniors and making the nursery safe do not claim to be complete. After all, creating a safe and functional living environment is a dynamic-creative process that always needs additions.
Source: Sferrario1968, Pixabay
Lighting and electric blanket (seniors)
certain measures in the bedroom that apply to all living areas, such as removing thresholds and having a floor installed that is not slippery, but above all not too rough.
- Can you easily reach the light switch of the bedside lamp? Very convenient if you have to get out at night. Make sure that the lamp has the correct strength for the bedside lamp to prevent overheating of the lampshade. A dimmer offers a solution.
- Don’t leave cords trailing across the floor. This prevents tripping hazards.
- Keep a cordless phone on the bedside table in case of emergencies.
- To be on the safe side, also keep a flashlight on the bedside table in case of a power outage.
- Do not shield annoying light from, for example, a bedside lamp with a cloth or paper. Have a dimmer installed.
- Have an electric blanket checked every year. Safe is safe.
- Avoid overheating or electrocution. So replace the electric blanket in time.
Source: Unsplash, Pixabay
Furniture and attic
Avoid loose rugs in the bedroom, don’t let cords trail across the floor and provide space so that you can easily walk around the bed at night when you need to go to the toilet.
- Place the furniture in the bedroom so that you do not bump into it. This is especially important if you need a walker or cane.
- If you are used to a walker (or cane) during the day, it is better to use it at night as well.
- Don’t smoke in bed.
- Place the night slippers where they belong: exactly where you get out of bed. Then you don’t have to reach for it with your feet or bend over to reach for it.
- Place your glasses on the bedside table, so they are within reach. Good vision significantly reduces the risk of tripping.
- If you feel dizzy, do not get up immediately, but sit on the edge of the bed for a while.
- Is it becoming increasingly physically difficult to get out of bed? Perhaps a (raised) senior bed is worth considering, possibly with a motor with remote control that allows you to adjust the head and foot ends.
- Do you have difficulty walking? Avoid tripping over your dressing gown or other nightwear, such as pajama pants that are too long.
- Consider installing a fixed staircase to the attic, possibly with a stair lift.
- Extendable attic stairs are leg-breakers as you get older.
About cribs, cuddly toys and pillows
According to many pediatricians, three years of age is a safe lower limit for using a pillow . A pillow can pose a suffocation hazard for babies and toddlers, especially if the child cannot yet turn over or lift its head.
- The furniture in the children’s room must meet strict European safety standards. The space between the vertical bars of cribs may be a maximum of 6.5 centimeters.
- The ideal baby room temperature is about 17-18 degrees.
- Don’t kiss babies. Even as they grow, postpone using a pillow for as long as possible.
- Do not place the crib or bed near a heater or heating pipes.
- Don’t put too many cuddly toys in the bed. Large cuddly toys in particular can be dangerous (danger of suffocation).
- Beware of cords and cords (e.g. from the night light). Small children should not be able to reach it. This also applies to curtain cords, for example.
- It often happens that small children fall off the changing table. The chest of drawers must have a working height of 90 centimeters and raised edges of at least three centimeters. Make sure that the chest of drawers has a smooth finish, without sharp corners and edges.
Windows, doors and sockets
Provide the sockets with cover plates. It is one of the first things to consider when small children live in the house.
- Secure the windows in such a way that small children cannot open the windows themselves.
- Children love to climb and clamber. So do not place furniture under the windows.
- If necessary, use door buffers, door blocks and door gap stoppers. The door will not close due to drafts and other causes. Also, the little ones’ fingers cannot get trapped between the door or door gap (near the hinges).
read more
- Safe living for children and the elderly – living room
- Safe living for children and the elderly – kitchen
- Safe living for children and the elderly – stairs and corridors
- Safe living for children and the elderly – bathroom and toilet
- Fire hazard in the home
