When caring for someone afflicted Alzheimer's disease in a home setting, caregivers must take a critical look at the living environment. Adapting the home to prevent accidents and ensure optimal safety for your loved is paramount.

 It is sometimes necessary for a caregiver to place himself or herself in the position of the person suffering from Alzheimer's to help anticipate possible concerns or dangers. Learn to continually adapt both the living environment and approaches to care as the stages progress.

Caregivers will find that such approaches will be dependent upon the person for whom care is being provided. The most important aspect of caregiving in a home is safety and security, for both the patient and the caregiver.

In the long run, adapting the home environment is much easier than trying to adapt behaviors that may be exhibited by a loved one in various stages of the condition.  Making necessary changes within the home environment may not only decrease physical hazards, but also reduce the amount of stress that is placed upon both the caregiver and the care receiver. Minimizing risks and making a home safe for those suffering a steady decline in both cognitive and physical disabilities is also a major step toward ensuring security and protection of a loved one suffering from Alzheimer's as well as providing safe environment for all those involved in care. Anticipating such risks and hazards goes a long way toward helping caregivers prevent potential injuries and accidents.

Creating a Safe Living Environment

When assessing a home or apartment for someone suffering from Alzheimer's, one of the most important things to consider is preventing access or use to areas or equipment that may harm the patient. Such dangers can include:

• Hazardous areas within the house 
• Basements and garages and tool sheds
• Kitchen and bathroom appliances

A person suffering from dementia may not be able to rationalize the difference between safe and unsafe. Locking doors that lead to areas that contain tools, equipment, or materials that may prove harmful to the patient is necessary.

Removing electrical equipment or appliances from the bathroom and kitchen area will help to reduce the risk of electrical shock. Something as innocuous as a kitchen blender may cause injury to someone suffering from cognitive function and loss. To prevent accidents, knives and cooking implements should also be stored in a safe, secure location and cooking appliances in the kitchen can be made safer by removing knobs or installing hidden circuit breakers and gas valves. 

Refrigerator should be checked frequently for food spoilage. In many cases, people suffering from various stages of Alzheimer's may be unable to distinguish between fresh and rotten food. Sense of taste and smell may also be altered due to medications.

Gardening tools, gasoline and equipment normally stored in tool sheds and garages should be placed in a secured area to prevent accidents, and car keys and keys to larger pieces of home or yard maintenance equipment should be stored in a protected location.