People with Alzheimer’s disease may not see, smell, hear, and/or remember things as they used to. You can identify and remove potential home hazards to make life safer and easier for them. Consider the following tips to help prevent accidents during the holiday season:
- Secure holiday decorations, such as Christmas trees, lights, or menorahs, so that they do not fall or catch on fire.
- Monitor anything flammable or lit, like candles, and put them away when not in use.
- Make sure lights, cords, and breakable items are fixed firmly, correctly, and out of the way.
- Try to avoid clutter, especially in walkways.
Use NIA’s room-by-room checklist to identify potential home hazards and record changes you need to make to help keep a person with Alzheimer’s disease safe. You can also find more holiday hints for Alzheimer’s caregivers on NIA’s website.
