Essential Safety Features in Senior Living Communities

Senior living safety and security features matter when you're trying to help your loved one find a new home. You want to be able to trust that they will be secure in a senior living community. But that's not always a given.

Keep reading to learn about the essential safety features in assisted living communities!

24-Hour Staffing

Elder care communities should have staff working in shifts throughout the day. If something happens in the middle of the night, your loved one will be able to depend on their presence. Staff members need to be good communicators and listeners.

Staff should be trained to provide caregiving that is compassionate and efficient. They should have passed background checks prior to gaining employment, too. It's fair to ask what training looks like for staff members during a tour of a community.

Some staff should be specifically assigned to security duties, as well. This can entail patrolling the property or stationing themselves at entrances and exits. Their presence will be a deterrent against suspicious activity, and they'll be able to watch for residents who wander.

Secure Entrances

Senior safety features always include security systems. You don't want just anyone entering and exiting a building or apartment. That's why a security system that keeps doors locked when not in use is key.

Residents and staff should have key fobs or passcodes they can use to enter the building. This ensures that individuals with unknown motives are unable to enter the property. Security guards should monitor entrances throughout the day as another protective measure.

For outdoor gathering spaces, like patios or gardens, fencing should line the perimeter. A fence creates a physical barricade that can provide needed privacy while keeping residents safe. The fence should have locked gates that are only accessible by trained staff.

Assisted living security should include surveillance cameras, as well. Cameras are a clear visual indication that the property is secure and monitored. Cameras should sit over entrance points, hallways, and gathering areas.

Fall Prevention Measures

As people age, the risk of debilitating falls goes up. This is largely due to balance issues and muscle loss. Many seniors struggle to get out of chairs or move comfortably when they're facing physical limitations.

Assisted living communities can help prevent falls through well-designed buildings. Grab bars in rooms and hallways can help residents steady themselves when walking. They also can prevent harder falls.

Buildings should have non-slip flooring and handrails. Apartments and rooms should have walk-in showers and ramps to make transitioning from one space to another easier. Call buttons on walls can let seniors notify staff if they fall.

Hallways should be wider to accommodate wheelchairs and traffic patterns between places. Staff members should help maintain all public spaces, too, by decluttering and removing tripping hazards.

And last but not least, all spaces within a senior living community should have good lighting. For seniors with vision impairment, well-lit spaces offer a much safer environment. They also can boost moods!

Emergency Response

Senior care safety standards must include a clear approach to emergency situations. Health emergencies in an assisted living setting can happen. And staff should be trained to respond.

Senior living communities should have intercom systems and phones accessible in every hallway or room. Staff should be trained to do CPR and other essential medical procedures. And there should be enough staff working at a time to avoid being shorthanded in emergencies.

There should be a protocol in place for fires or weather-related situations, as well. You don't want anyone trapped in a compromised building.

Staff members should evaluate sprinklers and fire alarms regularly and buildings should have backup power systems. These can keep medical equipment working during power outages. Buildings should have illuminated evacuation routes for residents to follow in case of a fire.

Residents should be able to reach caregivers in health emergencies easily. For example, bathrooms and sleeping spaces should have pull cords for residents to reach. And residents should have wearable alert pendants as another way to communicate a need for help.

Medication Assistance

Medication management can be one of the overlooked senior living essentials. Many seniors have strict medication schedules, and it can be dangerous to miss doses. As a result, staff will need to work with seniors to ensure they're getting the medication they need at the right times.

Staff can assist seniors with organizing medication. They can use dispensers that are labeled by day or time, for example.

Staff should check in with seniors when they are due to refill a prescription. And staff should help make sure residents can make it to all health-related appointments.

Medication errors can lead to severe consequences. But with help and structure, it doesn't have to be that way in a senior living community.

Room Monitoring

Reputable senior living communities will prioritize monitoring residents. In fact, this is one of the key reasons senior living communities are popular. Frequent check-ins assure that everything is alright--or they alert staff to problems.

Many seniors have limited mobility and spend more time in their rooms. They may be coping with physical issues, like back pain or swelling. Or they may face mental health challenges, making in-room checks critical.

Round-the-clock monitoring can involve installing sensors in rooms. These sensors can make tracking movements possible. This, in turn, helps staff members notice irregularities that might make a check-in a good idea.

Senior living community staff should be available to monitor rooms overnight and during the day. And they should be able to do so remotely. Ongoing monitoring gives everyone a sense of comfort.

Look for Senior Living Safety and Security Features

The right senior living safety and security features offer peace of mind for residents in their golden years. Expect senior living communities to have trained staff who can respond to emergencies and help with day-to-day tasks. Communities also should have secure entrances, well-designed buildings, and frequent monitoring.

Addington Place of Fairfield provides a caring senior community for your loved one. Our exceptional staff can help with anything from assisted living to memory care. Contact us today to learn more!