6 Safety Measures for Living with Older Adults at Home

We always aim for safety and often these can be reflected on how we manage our houses as well. Real estate developers in the Philippines or any elsewhere around the globe are finding comfortable ways for their customers and clients to be safe not only outdoor wise, but also inside their household premises.

If you are living with oldies at home, it is a necessity to keep them safe and away from accidents. Knowing some safety measures would not hurt because after all, safety is a valuable investment and having some precautionary measures at home would not be bad at all.

1.    Check fire escapes at home.

Fire exits are important portions in a house, which can mend or break a life. Seriously, this can help in achieving a safe-zone inside your home by preparing yourselves for the worse. If you are living in one of the Ayala condos or Rockwell townhouses in the Philippines with your senior parents or grandparents, there are allocated fire exits in the building so this is something not to worry about. Make sure you also know the whereabouts and the fire escape plans within the building to keep you noted.

2.    Be organized.

If you are living with older adults at home, make it to a point that your house is not cluttered and that your stuff are not placed anywhere else inside the house. There are designated areas where you can keep your things to avoid the elders stepping into them, like the toys your kids are playing with, or the screwdriver that your husband missed to put back on the toolbox at the basement. By simply following the no-clutter-inside-the-house rule, being safe can also go on its way.

 

3.    Avoid slippery portions at home.

As we all know, most of the elders are often losing some of their very important senses like vision, or are already using support like a walking stick to keep them up. And sometimes, some portions in the house are often neglected, like the slippery areas. With this in mind, it would be helpful to assist them in the process especially in moving around the house. Floors are often causes of accidents due to slippery surfaces but these can be prevented by being too extra careful. Avoid spilling liquid on the floor as well so as not to cause mishaps around the house.

4.    Keep sharp objects.
 

Not only for kids but also for older adults at home. Sharp objects are often neglected and some of the sources of these sharp things are furniture with pointed edges and sharp surfaces. Choose carefully your furnishings and decors to avoid such accidents. You can prefer using leather or soft cased couches or custom-made sofa for your grandparents or senior citizen family members. By having this, it would not only make them more comfortable but would also serve as a relaxed and safe atmosphere, conducive for settling.

5.    Rooms should occupy the first floor.

For most homes with older adults living with them, it has been taken to consideration the amount of energy these senior citizens will be exerting. And by that, it is suggested to have rooms especially made for the elder ones on the first floor of the house to avoid tripping over the stairs. This would also save more time and energy for them to begin with. And when they get much older, it would be easier to move to and fro around the rooms, kitchen, living room area or the garden for that matter, if their bedrooms are just accessible.

6.    Stairs should not be too steep.

Houses with two or three stories are often a pain for some of us, not mentioning the cleaning part, but also the moving-around-the-house portion. And by having this number of stories, means having stairs. Stairs are really okay, as long as you take into consideration your household members living inside your house. Again, senior citizens are to be protected since they are already quite soft-boned and may not be able to carry themselves up the steps.

These are just among the few more safety measures that can go along with while living with oldies at home. But these safety tips do not only apply to them, but merely to everyone inside your home sweet home. Just keep in mind the basics and everything will follow.

How to Prepare Your Home for the Rainy Season

Experiencing most of the heavy rains in a region where usual monsoon and typhoons come along might be something to be alert about.  And with the rainy season just around the corner, it is important to take a few simple precautions to ensure that you, your family and your homes are safe.

House Roof

One of the most important features in your house is your roof, which gives you shelter and cover. Make sure that it has no holes or leaking and have it checked regularly or if you have suspected defects in it. You can ask for your maintenance man around your community to double-check your roof to see if there are portions that needed repair. You can also have your roof repainted to coat it and have it protected from rust that may cause damage to your rooftop.

Wall

Your walls are important parts of your house since it is where the strength comes from, along with the beams that hold everything. In order to secure that your walls are well built and have no defects, make sure to check if there are no termite infestations that are inside those walls, not mentioning the quality of the materials used.

Have those walls painted as well and use a quality brand paint that will suit your needs. Choose wall paints that are waterproof and won’t cause them to produce bubbles. It is also a must that you consider using lacquer coating with anti-fungal ingredients to avoid your walls having molds especially the outside walls.

Floor

Floors are ideally built higher than the porch to avoid rainwater that will come inside your house. It is also important that your floors are properly made from quality materials and if possible are not slippery to avoid accidents to children and the elderly.

When the rainy season comes, it is inevitable for your floors to become dry especially when you let your wet shoes in. See to it that wooden floors are properly polished to prevent moisture from building up. Make sure to clean your floors with clean fabric to avoid being dirty.

Furniture

For your furniture at home, make sure that they are properly polished so that they are also protected from moist and decay especially those, which are made from wood. You can also vacuum those furnishings to avoid being musty especially during the monsoons.

Electricity

Power boxes and exposed electrical wires should be safe. Having these secured would prevent you from experiencing power outages and other electrical issues that may lead to extensive maintenance. It is also important to check on your outdoor lights and see if cables are still intact. We can never expect a short circuit until the worst comes. And by saying that, you may also need flashlights, batteries and charged up lamps so it is a must to prepare these things every time.

Windows and Doors

Especially those with glass windows, it is important to have these things checked whether they are still good or if there are visible cracks. Check if they are in need of replacements or repairs. It is essential to be more cautious especially if the weather is not good and typhoons are often experienced in the area.

Doors also needed to be checked if there are gaps when closed and if water can enter into the premises. It is better to check into these to avoid causing leaks and intrusion.

Gutters

Throughout the course of the year, gutters are often filled with leaves, branches or debris. These should be cleaned from time to time to avoid clog that may lead to rain water to not flow properly, which can cause flooding. Leaking on windows may also happen due to the water dripping down from clogged drains or gutters and can damage paint over time. Sought help from your maintenance folks on how to handle this situation for your rain check preps.

These are just a few reminders and tips for you to keep in mind especially now that we are approaching the rainy season. What is more important is your safety amidst the calamities and natural dangers that are springing up. It is better to be prepared at all times!

Real Estate Talk: Designing Your Property Interiors

Colors bring life to a blank canvass; same as what furniture does to a house.  Starting with a bare unit from real estate properties in the Philippines would mean a lot of work. This is how crucial interior designing is in real estate developing and learning the know-hows and whatnots in this industry or just maintaining the art of your space, might spark an interest in you.

You might be living in a high-rise condo unit somewhere in Manila or in one of the top real estate developers in the Philippines, and styling your house would be a tedious job if you do not know how to do it, and you would have yourself hire an interior designer if that is the case.

In this article, will be some insights to be learned on how you could do makeovers and create a look that you desire for your homes, offices and the like! We will be sharing to you some suggested decorations, designs and styles that might help you in coming up with the best ideas for your interiors as we go on.

Wall Decors

Wall decors are pieces of art that are very common in every blank room. Frames, mirrors, plaid designs or even artworks could add an accent to your home! From the size of your wall decors to your centerpieces, it is important to have a look that you wanted to achieve to suffice the theme of your choice. With this, it also means allowing you to create the feel of your home with regard to your personality by adding a touch of it!

Bookshelves

These can always go with just anything in the house! But it does also means that you can tweak a design for your bookshelves depending on the theme of your house or how you would a room to look like. Bookshelves are strategic design items, which can be of great help in accentuating your place.

Tables and chairs

These are one of the crucial items to be displayed at home and choosing better tables and chairs to suit your style should be well thought of.  Say for example, you are aiming for an elegant design with a touch of modern look; you can look for items online for inspiration or manage to ask your interior designer where you can buy those Caribbean-inspired items to complete the whole design that you are aiming for.

Kitchen

This is just one of the many important spots at home and where you will usually be spending a lot of time cooking and brewing your recipes for the family. But to make the feel more refreshing, you can tweak and add some designs to your kitchen area such as your dishwashers, your sink and your cabinets to a whole new level.

Bedrooms

This is one of the many favorite places to design and perhaps one of the easiest yet tedious areas at home that needs attention to details! Bedrooms are our private rooms and this is where we usually spend our time relaxing and filling ourselves with the comfort that we need from a day’s tiring work. To tweak this, you can choose linens that will go with the design of your bed and room. Color matching is also important since it can add up to the mood of the room.

Living Rooms

The heart of the house, the living room is one of the best places to hangout with your family and friends. It is important that you can manage to have a look that is not cluttered and well designed items. Color matching is another important thing to consider topped with the proper decors that would suit your style.

Gardens

Your house could have a tiny garden outside to maintain a balance façade of green and concrete. This can also add a natural and refreshing look for your homes. Just make sure that your gardens are well maintained in order for you to achieve a well-balance look.

Ways to Take Care of Your Properties

Having a lot of assets and investments is such a big responsibility to deal with. And by having responsibilities, means being hands on. Most people nowadays are already devoting their time on real estate properties because of the current trend that is happening in the global market. You might have Philippine properties that needs managing. 

Taking care of your properties is not a walk in the park. Sometimes you have to deliver time and effort in order for you to maintain what belongs to you, or let us say, something that is entrusted to you. It is not easy as counting one to ten, but it can be learned and can be a habit for you to do. It is your investment that we are talking about here anyway.

Here are some suggestions for you to know how to make sure that your properties are in good hands:

Know your surroundings.

By knowing your surrounding means getting yourself cautious on the possible instances of burglary or worst-case scenarios—crimes. We need to have it secured as possible so that these adversaries would not happen. These incidents can be avoided by having security measures such as security guards, CCTV cameras around your place and knowing a nearby police headquarter, just in case.

Do not leave your valuables unattended.

A very common statement often neglected by a lot of people. And by valuables, this does not only go to individuals who have high-tech gadgets, 5-number priced bags, but also to properties such as condominium units that are on five star locations. It is important to have these possessions secured and kept-an-eyed for.

Have your placed insured.

Every owner should know about this. And it is one essential move anyone should know if you want to keep your properties safe and protected.

Keeping it clean.

Owning a property do not only need to have safety measures, but also the need of keeping it clean. Having a regular cleaning session not only maintains the orderliness of the place (say for example a condo unit you are staying in) but also gives an impression that it has been taken cared of. By upholding this trait, this also reflects on how the owner treats his or her possessions.

There are still quite a lot of methods on how you can take care of your properties and it is important to practice these measures to ensure that your assets are in good shape.

Disclaimer: All images courtesy of Google images.