In an Asian society, one of the most important cultural aspects is our attention to filial piety, or the respect of one’s parents. In every family, the relationship of a child with his or her parents forms the backbone of that family unit. It is therefore very common in Malaysian society for several generations to live together under one roof.

Rather than sending elderly parents to a geriatric homes, it is the cultural norm to care for them in the home setting. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the home is safe for them to walk around and perform their daily routine. Elderly people are often frail and any small accident like a fall will have a huge impact on their brittle bones.

Follow these suggestions to increase the geriatric safety of your house:

• For parents who walk with a stick or a walking frame, remove all small rugs or small carpets to prevent them slipping.
• Buy a large bed which is of suitable height so that your elderly parents can get up and sit down on it, as well as move around comfortable. Don’t let them sleep on the floor as it makes getting up much harder.
• Bathrooms are where most of the accidents happen, sometimes fatally. That’s why it’s important to cover the whole floor with anti-slip mats
• Install grab bars in the bathroom as well as platforms for them to sit on
• Don’t keep their belongings too high or too low. Make sure the cupboard or wardrobe has drawers within easy reach of the elderly person so they don’t have to climb or bend down to get their things.
• Arrange for a small night light to light their way to the bathroom at night. Make sure it’s not too bright as to disturb their sleep
• If you live in a multi storeyed house, try to let your parent(s) have the ground floor bedroom. If that is not possible and your parent has trouble climbing the stairs, install an automatic chair climber
• In addition to a bedroom on the ground floor, there should be an attached bathroom or bathroom next door for easy access
• For electrical switches, mark the ‘on’ and ‘off’ ends with bright coloured stickers
• Give them a wide pathway to walk by removing clutter and bulky furniture from the corridors and walkways
• Install grab bars or handles to parts of your home where your parents walk to give them the added support