Decorating for the Holiday during Halloween Safety Month
Senior Care in Warren NJ
October is Halloween Safety Month. As a family caregiver it is your responsibility to keep your parent safe and healthy, but you also want to make sure that they are able to live the highest quality 
of life possible, which includes having fun and enjoying the favorite holidays of the year. If your aging parent is a great lover of the spooky season of Halloween, this is the perfect time to stimulate their mind and create wonderful memories with them by decorating for the holiday. While doing so, you want to make sure that you are still doing your part to keep your loved one as safe as possible.
Use these tips to help your aging parent stay safe while decorating for the Halloween holiday:
- Maintain lighting. Low lighting and shadows are perfect for the spooky ambience of Halloween, but they can be dangerous for a senior who is already dealing with low vision and balance problems, as well as for trick-or-treaters who may come to the door seeking seasonal sweets. Look for ways to create a fun atmosphere but without the potentially dangerous lighting.
- Avoid tripping hazards. Fun fake spider webs, dragging robes for porch decorations, and pumpkins filling the porch look great, but they can get in the way. Avoid decorations that block walking paths or that can create a tripping or slipping hazard. Make sure that any decorations or props that move do not move into walking areas.
- Say ‘no’ to flames. That glowing jack o’ lantern looks fantastic glimmering in the darkness of an October night, but if it is a real flame that is causing the glimmering, it could be a serious hazard. Rather than using real flames in any of your parent’s Halloween decorations, choose battery-operated tea lights instead. Many flicker very realistically for the same Halloween ambiance but without the danger of the flames.
- Be aware of limitations. Your parent might have adored Halloween when they were younger, but if they have developed Alzheimer’s disease or another form of cognitive limitation now that they are older, they might not be able to celebrate Halloween in the same way. Be aware of the changes in their mindset and cognitive functioning so that you know if you need to reduce the decorating or choose props that will not disturb or upset your parent.
Senior care can be an extremely meaningful and beneficial during the holidays. A senior home care services provider can be there for your parent to help them to manage preparations and planning for activities that they want to do, as well as with safety precautions that can help them to prevent injury, illness, and other difficulties while they are enjoying the festive season. When it comes to helping them with decorating for the Halloween holiday, a senior home care services provider can be there to help your parent understand their challenges and limitations and make decisions about their decorating approach that are right for them. Beyond decorating, a senior care provider can help your parent to enjoy Halloween safely, happily, and comfortably with a personalized approach to their care that includes assistance, encouragement, support, and care tailored to their specific needs. This means that they can be as festive as they want to be while also getting everything that they need to have the highest quality of life possible as they age in place.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional senior care in Warren, NJ, please talk to the caring staff at Generations Home Health Care today. Providing Home Care in Somerset, Essex, Union, Morris and Hunterdon Counties. Call us today at (908) 290-0691 or (973) 241-4534.
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