Spring has sprung, and that means saying goodbye to cold weather and hello to spring cleaning and chores around the home. If you would like to assist a senior with preparing for the upcoming season, but live far away, or you don’t have the time or the tools, send them our way. We would love to help.
For those looking for ways to keep an older adult’s home safe this spring, look no further. We’ve adapted a list of important safety tasks to keep your home humming along this season (originally posted by DailyCaring here).
Our trusted Help At Your Door Handyman services offer a variety of springtime assistance. You can pick from the extensive list of help we offer, or let our staff come and assess your home for fall risks and minor repair work:
Bathroom
- Install grab bars (if needed) or make sure existing ones are sturdy and well-attached
- Bath mats are replaced with non-skid low profile mats
- Install a raised toilet seat or safety frame (if needed) or check that existing ones are sturdy
- Tub or shower floor is non-slip
- Automatic night lights make it easy to see at night
Kitchen
- Emergency contact information is clearly posted on the fridge and near the telephone
- Appliances are in good working condition and within easy reach
- Frequently used items are in easy reach
- Unnecessary appliances are put away
Bedroom
- Automatic night lights light the way to the bathroom
- Bedside lamp is easy to turn on and off
- Phone is easy to reach from the bed
- Bed is easy to get into and out of
- Clothes are easy to reach
General house
- Water heater is set to a temperature that won’t scald
- All sinks and drains are in good working order
- Hallways and main floor spaces are clear of clutter
- Electrical cords are secured at the edges of rooms
- Lighting is bright and on/off switches are at every doorway, replace light bulbs as needed or switch to long-lasting LED bulbs
- Change smoke detector batteries or change to a 10-year smoke detector – or change carbon monoxide batteries
- Make sure fire extinguishers are fully charged and easily accessible
- Furniture is sturdy and in good shape – no wobbles
- Flooring is smooth and free of tripping hazards
- Hanging pictures, mirrors, wall décor, curtains or blinds to ensure that they are safely secured on walls
Outside the house
- House numbers are clearly visible from the street, night and day
- Walkways are clear and free of tripping hazards
- Railing and ramp installation and repair
- Screen repair/cleaning
- Fence repair
- Window washing
- Replacing or installing summer screens
- Minor landscaping
