Home safety is something that we don't always think about proactively. My guess is more than one of you has had an older relative fall or have some other kind of accident that resulted in a serious injury. And how many Silver Alerts have we all seen on the highway as we drive home? Planning ahead and taking some simple steps can minimize the risk of accidents and injuries.

When thinking about home safety, there are of course obvious things like removing throw rugs or perhaps moving furniture to make clearer pathways. Many older homes have fewer electrical outlets than newer ones, so extension cords can be another safety concern to look for. A related issue is that overloading extension cords can be a fire hazard. Here are some other, less obvious things you can do to improve safety at home:

• Make sure there are smoke alarms. I've been in my share of older homes that don't even have smoke alarms. Most fire departments will install smoke alarms at no cost.
• Obtain small fire extinguishers that an older person can easily handle, and keep them in easily accessible locations.
• When I do a home assessment, I always ask about firearms. Lots of people have guns, but they aren't always kept in safe locations. I once saw a loaded handgun in plain sight, when I know young children visited the house. Most of the time I see shotguns or rifles that aren't locked up. One thing you may not know is that the suicide rate among people over 65 is the highest rate of all age groups, and most older adults who attempt suicide are successful.
• Did you know it's possible to purchase locks for the stove? Cooking can be a very dangerous activity if the older adult forgets and leaves the burner or oven on. And more and more small appliances, like coffee pots and irons, come with automatice shut-off features.
• Review severe weather plans frequently. Here in North Texas we have our share of tornadoes and hail storms, so know where that safe place in your house is. If the older adult has mobility problems, make sure they can access that safe place on their own. 
• Check the hot water temperature. Older skin is more fragile and prone to burning, so make sure the hot water isn't too hot.