If your elderly family member has trouble walking or uses assistive devices like a wheelchair it’s vital that you have a plan for what to do if her home were to catch fire. Whether it’s day or night, you and you're senior need to know what to do in order to get her out safely.
Look Closer at Floor Coverings
Your senior’s flooring matters, because it needs to support her moving quickly in the event of an emergency. Slippery area rugs and thick carpet can be problematic on a good day, but if your senior is trying to get out of her home in an emergency, especially in the middle of the night, that’s a problem that you need to correct.
Clear Exits and Paths through the House
It’s always important that you’ve got clutter under control for your senior, but it’s vital when you’re putting together a fire plan. Make sure that if you have to clear a path through furniture or clutter that it’s wide enough for your senior to navigate along with any assistive devices she needs, too. Remember that she’s going to need more room for a wheelchair than she’ll need if she uses a cane, but she still needs space to maneuver.
Make Sure She’s Got Safety Items Nearby
Part of putting together an emergency preparedness plan involves thinking about all scenarios. If your elderly family member needs to evacuate her home due to a fire, she’s likely going to need tools within easy reach both during the day and at night. Make sure she’s got a cell phone that is easy for her to keep with her, even if she only wants it for emergency calls. Putting small, easy-to-operate fire extinguishers throughout the house is also a good idea. You may also want to make sure flashlights are stashed in easily reachable locations.
Look at Ways to Make Assistive Devices Safer, Too
Keep in mind that your senior’s assistive devices might need some help, too. Putting reflective tape on key parts of a cane, walker, or wheelchair might make it easier to see in the dark when she’s looking for it. If you can put emergency items in a small bag on her wheelchair, that might be good, too. Things like a flashlight or emergency cell phone can easily fit in a bag that is always attached to your senior’s chair.
It might be a good idea to work with your local fire department to fine-tune your plan. They can help you and your senior to know what to do in an emergency. This can be a scary situation to contemplate as a caregiver, but having a plan really does prepare you.
