Christmas can be such a joyful time that it’s easy to forget about safety concerns. But for the elderly, it’s always crucial to be aware of the hazards potentially related to Christmas festivities and activities. That’s because incidents like falls can have long-term impacts on a senior’s life – especially if help doesn’t come right away.

So, what should older people and their families watch out for as they aim to make their home safe for Christmas? Take a look at our handy guide to learn more.

Types of injuries

To keep a safety-focused mindset, you’ll want to know what kind of dangers you need to prevent. Some common types of injuries or emergencies include:

Burns, such as from candles or cooking
Heart or blood pressure issues
Slips, trips and falls

Of course, there’s always year-round risks to think about too. For more on these, take a look at our guide on fall-proofing your home.

Now, let’s dive deeper into some issues that crop up specifically during Christmastime.

Burns

Lighting candles in the home can be dangerous. That’s even more true for older people, who may have poorer coordination or worse balance. They could find themselves accidentally tripping and falling onto a lit candle. So, some older people may prefer to use electric candles.

Another risk is cooking – which can also cause other injuries like cuts or arthritic pain. Again, mobility and coordination problems can be a risk factor here, as well as weaker eyesight.

We often recommend using gadgets to help where possible. Devices such as electric can openers can be safer, and smart home devices can be helpful with keeping track of time so that hot sauces don’t bubble over. But when it comes to tough tasks like lifting the turkey out of the oven, it might be best to pass the job over to a younger person with more strength and flexibility.

Cardiovascular problems

Many older people have high blood pressure or an elevated risk of heart attack and stroke. That’s why it’s important for them to know that cold temperatures can thicken the blood and increase their chances of a stroke or heart attack. When older people are outdoors carol-singing or enjoying other Christmas festivities, it’s best for them to be wrapped up warm with lots of layers.

Significant shovelling of snow can also be dangerous as it adds heavy strain on the heart to the existing effects of cold.

Seniors who have breathing problems may also find that their windpipe tightens in the cold. To manage this risk, some elderly people like to keep a scarf across their nose and mouth so that the incoming air is a bit warmer. If you’re concerned about this issue, chat with your doctor.

Lastly, we should mention holiday heart syndrome. This is a heart arrhythmia that can occur with drinking alcohol over Christmas or other celebratory times.

Falls

There are so many different ways in which seniors can end up falling when it’s Christmastime. Below, we’ll take a closer look at a few.

Tripping falls

Tripping falls can happen when there are obstacles low to the ground that catch on an older person’s feet. At Christmastime, extension cords leading to lights can be a risk here, as well as Christmas presents or scraps of wrapping paper on the ground.

It’s important to keep walkways clear so that an elderly person has an easy, safe path around the home. Keep extension cords secured and away from walking areas and ensure that presents under the tree can’t get in the way. After presents are unwrapped, tidy up wrapping paper, ribbons and gifts – and remove them from the floor.

If you’ve put down any special cosy rugs for winter or Christmas, you’ll want to make sure that they’re safely secured. That means they can’t slip or slide and their corners aren’t curled up, which can trip someone.

Slipping and toppling falls

Putting up decorations can be fun and a great opportunity to make cherished memories. But it’s also a prime moment for falls to occur.

Going up a ladder is not typically recommended for older people. This may be another task that is best left to others – or one to get help with. And if a senior is walking around outdoors to put up decorations or lights, they’ll need to take precautions against slipping or falling on ice.

A more surprising fall risk occurs when an older person has to reach in an awkward way, whether that’s up high or down low. When you’re decorating a tree with ornaments, you’ll want to avoid straining or leaning to reach high or out-of-reach places. The same applies if an elderly person is reaching up to a high cupboard to get Christmas tableware or that special turkey roasting pan.

Vision-related falls

Did you know that older people see less well at night even if their overall eyesight is good?

That’s true – and it can lead to falls when there’s insufficient lighting in the home. That’s one reason why motion-detecting nights and nightlights can often come in handy. They add a layer of safety when an older person is up and about after dark.

But what happens when a senior is visiting someone else’s home for the holidays? This can present issues if the home isn’t adequately lit or if its layout is unfamiliar. For example, a visiting grandparent may not know that there’s a single small step into the kitchen.

It’s more than worthwhile doing a little safety-proofing to protect older family members when they come to stay for Christmas. Simple plug-in nightlights can be used during the visit and then removed when it’s over. Plus, an elderly relative might want to have a small flashlight with them for extra protection.

Falls on stairs

Stairs are often an area of difficulty for seniors who have mobility problems. But that can be especially true, again, when they’re visiting a family member’s home which is unfamiliar to them or not equipped with the usual accommodations.

When choosing a family host for Christmas, you’ll want to consider whether their indoor and outdoor stairs and steps have sturdy handrails and adequate lighting to keep older loved ones safe.

Dementia falls

Of course, all of these issues become more complex when dementia is involved.

When you’re inviting older relatives with dementia for dinner or to stay for Christmas, it’s worth taking a look at the NHS guide about making your home dementia-friendly. There may be some small changes you can make that will improve safety and prevent injuries. For example, some seniors with dementia can be confused by rugs on the floor, and they may think that a dark rug is actually a hole.

Be alert to the risk of wandering, too. It’s possible for a person with dementia to realise that they are not in a familiar house or flat and try to return home. If a person with dementia has a history of leaving the home to wander outdoors, you may want to disguise the external doors so that they don’t try to leave. A dementia tracker is a great tool to use in this situation, too, because it allows the wearer to be tracked and located via GPS when needed.

Plan for safety during the holidays with SureSafe

All of the steps we’ve discussed can help to keep your Christmas safe and happy. However, there is no way to completely erase the risks of incidents like heart attacks, strokes and falls.

That’s why older people need personal alarms for protection during the holiday season. When accident prevention methods fail, the personal alarm helps reduce the impact of emergencies by getting help to the older person fast. Whether the incident is a heart attack, stroke, fall or other medical crisis, rapid assistance is always crucial, and that’s what a personal alarm is designed to provide.

A personal alarm is a great device to keep older people who live alone safe. But it’s also important for any elderly person, since falls can easily happen during the night when everyone is sleeping, or in a bedroom while the older person is alone taking a rest during the day.

How do personal alarms work? In addition to the GPS tracking we’ve already discussed, there are two main personal alarm functions that help a senior to get help. One is fall detection, which functions via sensors and an algorithm in the alarms. These components of the alarm are constantly assessing whether a fall has occurred. If the alarm believes it has detected a fall, it will call for help automatically.

The other key function is a one-touch SOS button. This allows the wearer of the alarm to call for assistance by touching and holding just one button on their alarm. When an accident has occurred and a phone is not within reach, or the older person is too unwell to think about dialling, the one-touch button on a wrist or pendant alarm can make all the difference.

Thinking about getting a personal alarm for your older loved one as a Christmas gift or just for protection in the winter? Turn to us at SureSafe. We’re a UK leader in personal alarms, providing easy-to-use and affordable alarms to help protect seniors. And we’re here to answer your questions – just call us at 0808 189 1671, use our live chat or request a call back.