5 Common Safety Issues for Seniors in the Kitchen
Senior Care in Kentwood MI
Within many rooms in the house there are probably numerous safety issues. Some of them they be issues that are easy to overlook. For seniors, safety should always be a top concern. Sometimes, though, it’s not always easy to pick out those potential safety hazards.
Below are five common safety issues that seniors may be dealing with in the kitchen. The sooner these safety issues are addressed, the better it will be for any senior who wishes to remain safe and comfortable within his or her home.
Common Safety Issue for Seniors #1: Dull knives.
It’s easy to assume that a dull knife is far safer than a sharp point, but it’s actually just the opposite. If a person is trying to use a dull knife to cut through chicken, steak, or some other food items, they need to press down with more force. That also increases the risk the knife will slip.
If a knife slips, even a dull one, it can cause a serious laceration. In fact, more emergency room visits for lacerations are the result of dull knives as opposed to sharp ones.
Common Safety Issue for Seniors #2: Leaving the stove on.
If the senior is cooking something, walks out of the room to gather something up, and forgets what they were doing, they could leave an item on the stove top or in the stove itself. If something is left unattended in the kitchen cooking, it could become a serious fire hazard.
Common Safety Issue for Seniors #3: Reaching for items high up.
When a person has limited mobility and strength in their legs, they will probably have balance related problems. If that’s the case and they try to reach items that are high up in cabinets, they might try to use a stepladder or a kitchen chair.
By trying to do this, the senior with diminished physical strength and balance is putting himself or herself at extra risk of falling.
Common Safety Issue for Seniors #4: Slick floors.
If the floor gets wet around the kitchen sink, it can become slick. This is especially true when you’re talking about linoleum or ceramic tile floor surfaces. It’s a good idea to apply nonslip pads in the kitchen, especially around the sink area.
Common Safety Issue for Seniors #5: Expired foods.
If the senior has expired foods in the kitchen, in the refrigerator or cabinets, that could be a safety issue because if they continue eating it or cooking with it, it can lead to a serious health emergency.
Any senior living alone who may be at diminished strength or other capacities to consider home care support services to keep them safer.
If you or someone you know needs help with senior care in Kentwood, MI, contact Gauthier Family Home Care. We provide quality and affordable home care services in our community. Call us at (616) 258-2300 for more information.
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