How to prevent falls in your Oakland home
Losing your balance on an unsecured rug or tripping on a power cord might seem harmless to many, but they can be catastrophic for seniors. In reality, falls are the leading cause of injury for residents over 65. If you are a senior or a relative watching over an elderly parent, find tips on how to prevent falls in your Oakland home, and see how modern smart home features can boost safety.
Check out tips for preventing falls
Straightforward precautions will go a long way to keeping you or your loved one safe. Even so, you also must broaden your scope and consider any medical-related issues that could elevate the risk of falls.
- Look for hazards throughout your home. Keep boxes, papers, clothing, and other random objects off your floor. Tape down rugs. Ensure walking areas are free of power cords.
- Install safety measures. Standard home improvements like support bars in bathrooms and railings beside stairs can significantly boost safety. If you have steps, supplement your handrails with slip-resistant treads.
- Opt for sensible footwear. Loose slippers, heels, flip-flops, and worn-down shoes with no tread left elevate the risk of falling. Choose options that fit with proper support and non-skid soles.
Get advice from a medical professional
Beyond the simple precautions like keeping objects off your floors, you need to think about your health and seek guidance from a medical professional. Several health conditions and medications can increase your fall risk. Keep your normal medical appointments and vision checks, and ensure you know the possible side effects of your prescriptions.
Staying active is also essential to maintain your flexibility, strength, and balance. Stick to a regular exercise regimen approved by your medical provider. While exercise is essential, you can also eliminate extra activity and make life easier with a smart home.
Enhance convenience and safety with a smart home
Constantly getting up and down to turn on the lights, lock your door, or reset your thermostat can be avoided. A smart home is able to help! Here’s what you can do:
- Remote access: Top smart homes are controlled by mobile apps. You can lock your doors, adjust thermostat and light levels, and even arm your system from any location.
- Voice control: You don’t even need your phone to control your smart home! Connect your system to a voice assistant, then just use your voice to control tools like lights and locks.
- Home automation. Want to make life even simpler? You can set home automation actions and allow your equipment to operate automatically. Set a scene at the end of the day and have your lights dim, system arm, thermostat adjust, and doors lock on their own.
In the rare event that you fall, a medical device that contacts your smart home monitoring specialists can be a lifesaver. A simple touch of a button can request assistance immediately at times when every moment counts.
Stay safe in your Oakland home with Vivint
Reduce the chances of falling and increase your safety with a Vivint alarm system in Oakland. Smart home tools like custom automation and voice activation are perfect for seniors and others with mobility issues. Add a medical device to your smart home and get immediate access to monitoring professionals when you need it most. Call (510) 281-3999 to build your system today.