Care is essential for residential communities, assisted living centers, and senior care centers to ensure their elderly residents are safe from injury. Insurance premiums and even liability coverage itself can also be based upon compliance to safety regulations.

To make your home away from home safer, have a daily check list:

1. Walking Hazards to the Sight Challenged

• Remove all      stools, newspapers, light and phone cords from walkway traffic areas.
  • Also       remove all unnecessary plant stands or side tables from high-traffic       areas.
• Secure loose      rugs by applying double-faced tape to secure them to the floor.  You      can also apply slip-resistant backing to these rugs or find it more safety      conscious to remove loose rugs entirely.
• Inspect for      loose floorboards, carpeting or tiles and repair them securely and      immediately.

2. All Belongings at Waist Level for Residents.

• The senior      residents should be able to reach their clothing and necessities, if they      are able to dress themselves.

3. Cleanliness Next to Godliness

•  A      nursing or assisted living center for the infirm or elderly must      immediately clean up any and all spilled liquids or solids pursuant to      state law and the insurance company handling your liability protection      dictates.

4.  Light up your living space

Keep walkways throughout the residence brightly lit to avoid  tripping.  Also:

• Place night      lights in each bedroom, bathroom and hallway.
• Place a lamp      by each bed  for middle-of-the-night emergencies.
• Make and      mark clear paths to light switches, especially those not by a doorway.      Utilizing glow-in-the-dark or illuminated switches can be beneficial.
• Make sure stairway      lights are on after dusk to illuminate each step. Store flashlights      conveniently for staff.

5. Use Assistive Devices

Residents’ doctors might recommend them walking with walker or can assistance, and if so, ensure that all staff members are trained to assist the senior with their walking appliance and other devices you have installed to help. For example:

• Hand rails      attached securely on both sides of all stairways
• Nonslip      treads applied to  surface of bare-wood or tile steps
• Have      sufficiently  raised toilet seats and include arm rests
• Grab bars      for each shower or tub, even if the resident must shower or bathe with an      attendant assisting him or her.
• A seat      securely installed inside the shower or tub, plus a hand-held shower      nozzle for the ease of residents’ bathing while sitting down.
• Skid proof      mats must be kept in shower and bath tub.