Contact your local fire department
Your local fire department will be happy to help you, your family, and caregiver with fire prevention, free of charge.
They can help you test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and make safety recommendations based on your home and any special needs, or help you prepare a fire safety plan.
Hire a professional in-home caregiver
Most fires happen when seniors are home alone. Having a caregiver in the home can help reduce the risk of accidental fire and burns for seniors, while still allowing the senior to live independently. This is especially beneficial for seniors at a higher risk for accidental fires, such as those who smoke, are forgetful due to age, illness, or side effects of medications, or are living with reduced physical or mental capacity.
With someone else in the home you can significantly lower the chance of a fire because of a forgotten pot, candle or cigarette, or improper use of a space heater or a fireplace. An in-home caregiver can also monitor side effects from medications and conditions that can impair a senior’s judgment or contribute to forgetfulness or falls.
A caregiver can take on the cooking or be present while the care recipient is cooking if they enjoy doing it themselves. They can also help seniors maintain a clutter-free home, test smoke detectors, and pick up and replace batteries, etc.
Along with all of these things, a caregiver can also provide companionship and assist with other tasks that can make aging in place safer.