When caring for an individual with Alzheimer’s disease at home, safety and accessibility can be important concerns. The person may experience changes in:

• Judgement: forgets how to use familiar household appliances and equipment properly
• Orientation: gets lost on his/her own street or is unable to recognize or find areas in the home
• Behavior: becomes easily confused, suspicious, or fearful
• Physical Ability: has trouble with balance, or depends on a walker or wheelchair for mobility
• Senses: experiences changes in vision, hearing, sensitivity to temperatures, and depth perception

Assess the environment
Identify possible hazards by looking at your home through the eyes of an individual with Alzheimer’s. What objects can could cause the person injury? Can the person easily get outdoors or access dangerous areas such as the kitchen, garage, or basement?

Focus on adapting rather than teaching
Avoid reteaching the person with Alzheimer’s about safety issues. Instead, identify potential risks and take the appropriate precautions.

Simplify activities
Most accidents, especially in the area of personal care, occur when the person with Alzheimer’s is rushed. Break activities into simple, step-by-step tasks, allowing her plenty of time to complete them.

Support the person’s needs
Try not to create an environment that is too restrictive. The home should encourage independence, social interaction, and activities that are meaningful.

Be realistic about what you do
You will never be able to prevent every problem. Rely on your common sense while paying close attention to objects or activities that could be dangerous.

Make Potentially Dangerous Places Less Accessible
The following steps will help to make potentially dangerous areas more difficult to access:

• Lock or disguise hazardous areas
  Cover doors and locks with a painted mural or cloth.
• Install locks out of sight
  Place deadbolts either high or low on exterior doors to make it difficult for the person with Alzheimer’s to wander out of the house.
• Use special safety devices
  Childproof locks and doorknobs can help limit access to places where knives, appliances, equipment, cleaning fluids, and other poisonous products are stored.

Diffuse bright light
Reduce glare by removing or covering mirrors and glass tops or highly polished furniture. Cover windows with blinds, shades, or sheer draperies to block bright sunlight.

Use different colors
Place contrasting colored rugs in front of doors or steps to help the individuals anticipate staircases and room entrances. However, avoid using very dark colored rugs since it may be perceived as a hole.

Beware of Hazardous Objects and Substances
Even the most basic appliance or household object can become dangerous to the person with Alzheimer’s. To reduce risk of injury:

• Limit the use of certain appliances and equipment
  Remove electrical appliances, such as an electric razor or a hair dyer, from the bathroom to reduce the risk of electrical shock. Put away kitchen appliances and equipment including knives, mixers, grills, guns, lawn mowers, or power tools because the person may not remember how to use them safely.
• Supervise smoking and alcohol consumption
  Keep an eye on the person who uses cigarettes, cigars, or pipes because he/she may not realize the dangers related to smoking.
• Be prepared for the unexpected
  Persons with Alzheimer’s have been known to eat items such as small rocks, dirt plants, flowers, and bulbs. Take precaution by removing toxic plants and any decorative fruits (wax, plastic, etc) that the person may think are real.
• Keep the refrigerator safe
  The person with Alzheimer’s may not be able to distinguish the difference between fresh and rotten food. Clean out the refrigerator regularly and discard inedible food. Keep foods that are safe to eat in the front of the refrigerator and at eye level where it can be easily seen.
• Keep walking areas clear
  Remove objects, such as magazine racks, coffee tables, and floor lamps to create safe wandering areas and reduce the possibility of injury.
• Supervise taking prescription and over-the-counter medications
  The person may experience difficulties related to medication use, either forgetting to take them, or taking too much. Consider using locked pill dispensers operated on a self-timer to assist him/her.

Avoid Injury During Daily Activities
Since a majority of accidents in the home occur during daily activities such as bathing, toileting, and eating, it is important to take special precautions:

• Monitor temperatures
  As the disease progresses, the person may have a decreased sensitivity to temperature. Consider setting hot water heaters at 120 degrees and installing automatic-mixing or anti-scalding devices to the faucets. Also, it is important to check the temperature of foods before serving to make sure that they are not too hot or too cold to consume.
• Prevent falls
  Install walk-in showers and grab bars in the shower or tub and at the edge of the vanity to enable the person to move around safely and independently. Add textured decals to slippery surfaces and apply adhesives to keep throw rugs and carpeting in place, or remove them completely. Place padding on the edge of counters and bathroom fixtures if they are sharp.

Be prepared for emergencies
Keep a list of phone numbers and addresses for local police and fire departments, hospitals and poison control help lines.