Keeping your home safe and comfortable for family members is probably very important to you. Whether you recently moved into a new residence or lived in your current home for many years, keeping up with the new advancements in technology can have many advantages with regard to achieving this goal.
Accommodating a Senior
Taking in an aging parent is an adjustment for every member of the family, including your parent. They have different needs such as certain foods they can no longer eat, and many have issues with mobility. This can become scary for you especially if you work all day and leave your older loved one home alone. Thankfully, with a few modifications to the home, you can head out the door knowing they are fine. Start by installing handrails and grab bars, followed by clearing away clutter from the common areas such as the kitchen, dining room and living room. If they have a bedroom on the second floor, climbing up and down can become difficult. Installing a stair lift or a shaftless elevator can make their life easier, as well as your own.
Security
When you have children and pets in the home, you want to keep them safe. Today, there are many high-tech security systems that include features like high-definition cameras, 24/7 monitoring, alerts to your cell phone when a change in temperature or moisture are present and remote access. These systems bring peace of mind. In addition to having an alarm system in place, you should also replace older doors with solid ones and update your locks. Most people don’t give a second thought to their windows. However, most intruders will use either a back door or a window as their point of entry. The good news is that there are many ways to make them hard to open. Reinforced glass such as tempered or laminated or Plexiglas provides you with three good options. If you want to further deter a would-be criminal, add metal bars to the outside of street-level windows.
Child-Proof Home
Prior to your baby taking their first steps, you should take precautionary measures to make your home as safe as possible for your little traveler. Young children are very curious and without fear. Luckily, there are many things you can do to create a safe indoor environment. First, limit their access to certain areas by installing baby gates in doorways and at the base of stairs. Outlet covers, doorknob covers, toilet locks and locks on the inside of the cabinet will also keep them out of harm’s way. Medications, knives, and chemicals should never get left out within reach of a toddler. Try to store them in high up places such as the refrigerator or in the case of chemicals, move them out to the garage. And, if you are using something like an iron or a curling iron, make sure to unplug them and place them in a secure location to cool. Other common sense safety measures can be moving a sofa or chair away from walls with windows, adding bumper strips to glass or sharp square edges of furniture and replacing older blinds with the new ones that have no dangling cord. In their bedroom putting a non-slip pad underneath the crib will prevent movement and using hardware to secure their dresser and shelves will reduce the risk of it falling onto them.
Your home is a place where every member should feel safe and comfortable. By making a few changes to the home’s interior you can create a wonderful environment where everyone’s safety is a priority.
