Senior Safety in 2024

Older adults often prefer to live at home and age in place. Whether a senior loved one lives with your family or in their own house, it’s wise to set up certain safety features to protect them physically and financially. 

Here is a guide to essential senior safety products and services. By being prepared before a mishap occurs, you can give your loved one — and your entire family — greater peace of mind.

There are several home safety products to help seniors age in place, including medical alert systems from brands like Medical Guardian

Medical Alert Systems

The potentially life-saving tools are as easy to activate as pressing a button or making a vocal request. Many of the best medical alert systems can automatically detect when a user has fallen if they are wearing a connected device. You can review our list of the top medical alert systems with fall detection to learn more.

Testing out a Medical Guardian fall detection help pendant

Often called personal emergency-response systems, the systems typically feature panic buttons on walls, wearable devices, and home speaker connectivity that allows users to communicate with dispatchers.

Bay Alarm Medical – Wall Button

Medical alert systems are typically connected to a 24/7 monitoring company that provides immediate responses when emergency or medical personnel are required. They are ideal for older adults who have mobility issues, suffer from a chronic health condition, or are home alone frequently. Below you can find reviews of the top-rated medical alert systems:

• ADT Medical Alert Review
• Bay Alarm Medical Review
• Medical Guardian Review

Home Security Systems

Seniors choosing to remain in their own homes can easily become targets for thieves and other miscreants. Home security systems for seniors can help protect against home invasions or break-ins. Older adults benefit from a greater sense of safety, along with 24/7 monitoring. Of particular value are contracts that cover both home security systems and medical alert devices.

It’s important to find a security package that connects with your landline, cellular service, or both. How technologically advanced do you want the system to be? Do you want one fairly easy to operate, but robust in features? Individuals looking for state-of-the-art security will want to include options such as video cameras, motion detectors, and intrusion alerts, and perhaps even consider incorporating some home-automation features into the system.

Identity Theft Protection

Older adults are a primary target for identity thieves and scammers for several reasons. For starters, some seniors aren’t as tech savvy as younger generations, making them vulnerable to online predators in particular. Older adults also tend to be more trusting, which makes them more likely to fall for door-to-door and phone scams, such as credit card fraud, robotic voice-recording callers, prize schemes, health-care scams, charity scams, and others. It is amazing how little personal information it takes to open credit accounts, obtain payday loans, and commit other acts of fraud.

Older adults are popular targets for several types of scams. Visit our guide to common scams that target seniors to learn how to protect yourself.

Fortunately, there are many reputable identity theft protection companies that help seniors and their families enjoy greater peace of mind. Identity theft protection services can keep tabs on everything from financial accounts and credit scores to social media hacks and even the dark web — all for a small monthly monitoring fee. It helps stop ID invasions and helps victims take quick action to reduce any damage. Most of the companies offer guaranteed protection and are backed by insurance coverage if slip-ups occur.

Walk-In Tubs and Showers

The bathroom is one of the most dangerous rooms in the home, and seniors can minimize the risks of slipping or falling by investing in a walk-in tub or shower setup. Walk-in tubs differ from traditional ones in that they feature a large safety door that allows you to step into the tub without lifting your legs very high, which reduces the risk of falling. The best walk-in tubs are typically equipped with a molded seating bench and handrails inside the unit, and some models feature adjustable bubble jets.

Curbless showers are set very low to the ground, and they’re ideal for people who use wheelchairs or scooters for mobility and those who prefer showers over baths. Walk-in tubs can be somewhat pricey, while curbless showers are generally more affordable. Read our reviews of some of the most popular walk-in tub brands below.

• Safe Step
• Kohler
• American Standard

Shower Chairs or Transfer Benches

Older adults sometimes grapple with balance issues. Shower or transfer benches are essential components for senior safety in the home, especially if medication makes you drowsy. Shower benches allow you to sit comfortably while bathing, and they are designed for ease of use and stability.

Many chairs come with height-adjustment features and foldable armrests that can be adjusted via suction cups affixed to the wall. It’s important to keep a few factors in mind when considering transfer benches for showers. Weight capacity for standard chairs often tops out at 250 pounds. Also, it’s essential to buy a chair or bench with measurements that will fit in the shower area.

High Seated Commodes

Also known as comfort height toilets, the commodes are typically three to five inches higher than standard models. You can install it yourself or call a plumbing professional, but raising the toilet height can be as simple as investing in a thicker toilet seat. With either method, elevating the commode’s height will make it easier to get on and off the seat safely.

Safety Grab Bars

Grab bars in the bathroom and strategically placed safety rails throughout the home can make a huge difference in protecting yourself from accidents. Grab bars in the toilet area provide additional leverage, and they can assist you in getting on and off the seat. Grab bars and safety rails are especially valuable for people with mobility concerns. Bars fall into two main categories: those that attach to the toilet via a free-standing frame and individual bars attached to walls surrounding the toilet.

Experts recommend installing one long horizontal grab bar along the longest wall in a shower or tub stall and vertical grab bars on other walls for rectangular shower-and-tub combinations. For cubicle or custom-designed walk-in showers, however, horizontal bars should be placed on all sides for maximum security.

Regardless of your shower’s design, install a vertical handle near the showerhead and consider horizontal grab bars for extra safety in case a fall occurs, since it can help you get back on your feet much more easily.

Safety Handrails in the Home

If you plan to remain in your home safely as long as possible, you may want to consider installing handrails in the potential “danger zones” throughout your home.

For starters, install handrails along the sides of stairwells leading up to a door. Installing handrails along both walls of indoor staircases is also highly recommended. Long hallways are another place to consider installing handrails. Putting handrails there can prevent falls while you traverse the home.

Stair-Lift Devices for the Home

Difficulty navigating a multistory home is a major reason many older adults feel pressured to leave their homes and downsize to an apartment or senior living facility. Dealing with stairs is of paramount concern for people who rely on the use of wheelchairs.

Stair lifts, however, offer a reliable solution for older adults with mobility issues. With the devices, you simply push a button to be elevated to the next floor in your home. Lift options include those for wheelchair accessibility and those with a built-in seat. Stair climbers are another top choice for wheelchair users. Most stair-lift models can work with curved, angled, or straight stairs. The devices can also be purchased for outdoor use to improve exterior access to the home.

Adjustable Beds and Bed Railings

They function similarly to the models you see in hospital and clinical settings, but adjustable beds have come a long way and are now commonly found in home bedrooms. They are particularly popular with seniors, because adjustable beds allow various parts of the unit to be raised and lowered. The ability to elevate the head, knees, and feet can provide relief for many common ailments, including:

• Alleviating back and body pains
• Improving digestion
• Reducing acid reflux and heartburn
• Alleviating snoring and sleep apnea
• Enhancing circulation
• Easing swelling
• Relieving symptoms of arthritis and other degenerative conditions

Adjustable beds and frames are ideal for people with mobility issues. Being able to tweak and modify a bed can make it easier to get in and out safely, and beds that incorporate handrails are also very helpful. Bed rails or handrails attached to hospital beds come in an array of lengths and sizes. Most will retract or fold down to give you more space when the rails aren’t needed.

Hearing Aids

The dangers of not being able to hear can be life-threatening. An older adult with severe hearing loss, for example, may not hear smoke detectors or fire alarms, leaving them vulnerable to numerous risks. Hearing aids can help resolve or compensate for hearing loss to a great extent.

Older adults with hearing loss often become depressed due to the embarrassment and sadness of not understanding or being able to communicate with others. After scientists analyzed nearly 2,500 studies, they found that hearing loss was associated with a higher risk for loneliness and social isolation.3

An added benefit of hearing aids is that they can preserve your cognition. In a recent study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers found major links between age-related hearing loss and cognitive decline.4 Seniors with hearing problems that go ignored have a greater chance of developing dementia than adults with adequate hearing.5

Below are our reviews of some of the highest-rated hearing aids.

• Eargo Review
• Jabra Enhance Review
• MDHearing Review

Mobility Devices for Seniors

Mobility devices range from walking canes and walkers to sophisticated wheelchairs and electric scooters. Walkers and canes are ideal for people who are recovering from an injury or simply need a bit of additional stability when moving around to prevent falls.

The devices also help alleviate pressure on the hips and knees, making them exceptional for older adults suffering from arthritis or degenerative joint disease. The top option for seniors who need a walker is a three-wheeled walker known as a rollator. They easily fold in half and are typically equipped with a basket and a hand brake for convenience. Four-wheeled walkers have similar features, but they also have a built-in seat.

Electric scooters and wheelchairs can also help older adults with limited upper-body strength, which may prevent them from comfortably using walkers or canes. The primary difference between scooters and electric wheelchairs is maneuverability. Wheelchairs often are easy to navigate in the home due to their smaller size and turning radius. For people with serious mobility issues, having both an electric wheelchair for use at home and a scooter for outings is recommended. Most insurance policies will cover a certain amount of the cost of the devices if they’re prescribed by a physician.

Wheelchair Accessible Ramps

Installing ramps leading to home entryways is a good idea for older adults, since an injury can happen when you least expect it. Wheelchair ramps are a valuable asset for wheelchair and scooter users who want to enjoy more freedom to come and go. Ramps are also invaluable during medical emergencies. They allow emergency personnel to enter and exit the home quickly with rescue and transport equipment.