Through special family mingling and the attraction of the pleasant time of the year, household accents. But for senior citizens, this season can bring a subtle increase in fall risk. Cords, rugs and crowded hallways can make a home feel inviting, but become a dangerous maze when someone uses a walker, cane, or hospital bed for home use.

But with a little advance planning, you can bask in the sparkle of the season without compromising safety. The following ideas are simple, practical ways that you can decorate, but still NOT obstruct any pathway.

 

Why the Importance of Holiday Safety Changes for Seniors

Our abilities to balance, see and react differ as we get older. Just a fall on a rug or a pounce on a cord can lead to a very serious injury. While we don a helmet to cross the street if a family member is already on mobility aids or has a medical bed at home, every fall can mean a longer road to recovery and a loss of independence.

It translates to more bodies in the house, more shoes at the door, holiday visits, and new or rearranged furniture. This can confuse seniors, particularly those suffering from memory problems, and ultimately raise their risk for tripping.

 

Common Holiday Tripping Hazards

Avoid These Common Problems When Decorating:

• Extension cords running across walkways
• Loose or bunched-up area rugs
• Low coffee tables and footstools in places where you have to walk over
• Bags and boxes on the floor
• Tree skirts that crumple and have curled edges
• Hallways and stairways with inadequate lighting

If your loved one is using a home-care bed in the living room or bedroom, ensure decorations are not blocking the area from which he/she transfer in and out of bed.

Safe Decorating Room by Room

Entrance and Hallways

• Keep mats flat and non-slip. Avoid thick, loose rugs.
• Use battery-operated candles or lights instead of running cords across the floor.
• Place a sturdy chair or bench at the entrance so seniors can sit to remove their shoes.
• Keep hallways clear of seasonal displays, baskets, or gift boxes.

Living Room

The living room is where people gather, so it must stay open and easy to move through.

• Position the tree so that it does not narrow the walking path.
• Tape or secure light cords along the wall, never across the middle of the room.
• Avoid cluttering the floor with decorations or extra furniture “just for the holidays.”
• Make sure there is a clear, straight path from the main seating areas to the bathroom and bedroom.

Bedroom

For seniors who sleep in a standard bed or a medical bed at home:

• Keep the space on both sides of the bed free of decorations, boxes, or extra furniture.
• Use nightlights or motion-sensor lights to brighten the path to the bathroom.
• Do not hang stockings, garlands, or string lights where they can brush against the senior and cause them to lose balance.

If you are wondering where to get a hospital bed for home, consider choosing a provider who also advises on safe room layout and fall prevention, especially during the holidays.

Managing Cords, Lights, and Decorations

Lights and cords cause many holiday falls. Some safer options include:

• Using shorter light strings and plugging them in close to the outlet
• Choosing battery-operated décor to reduce long cords
• Running any necessary cords along baseboards and taping them down
• Skipping large floor decorations that force seniors to step around them

If you’re planning new equipment and asking yourself where to get a hospital bed for home, look for companies that can suggest safe placement for outlets, cords, and furniture so that holiday decorating stays simple and safe.

Involving Seniors Without Increasing Risk

You don’t have to leave seniors out of the fun to keep them safe.

• Ask them to help choose colours or themes instead of lifting or climbing.
• Set up a small decorating station at a table so they can arrange ornaments while sitting.
• Play music, look through old photos, and let them direct where items should go.

This way, they stay involved while younger family members handle the bending, lifting, and ladder work.

When You Need Extra Support at Home

Sometimes, the safest way to enjoy the holidays is to adjust the home setup itself. If mobility has changed after surgery, illness, or a hospital stay, a home care bed can make transfers easier and reduce the risk of falls from low or soft mattresses.

Many families look up where to get a hospital bed for home right before the holidays, when they realize a loved one is coming home from the hospital and the current bed is too low, too soft, or too hard to get out of safely.

Choosing the right hospital bed for home use, along with safe decorating choices, can make the season both joyful and secure.

 

Holiday Safety Checklist for Seniors

Run through this quick checklist before guests or decorations arrive:

• Walks are wide, clear, and well-lit
• No cords, even temporarily, cross walkways
• Rugs are non-slip or removed
• Handrails or grab bars are secure on stairs and in bathrooms.
• Décor — not to impede the toilet, Bed or Kitchen
• The medical supplies and furniture have a clear open space around them

Final Thoughts

It needs to feel warm and welcoming on the holidays, not stressful and unsafe. Avoiding decorating in an unsafe way is very easy with a little foresight, keeping everyone healthy while making the house festive for the holidays, specifically the seniors you love who donít want to fall on holiday.

Clear paths, avoid cords or keep them managed, and place any decorations out of the way. If a family member requires a more secure place to sleep, discover hospital bed for home use options and contact a local respected provider about delivering and installing them.

This allows everyone to finally take some time, breathe, celebrate, and enjoy the season together with safe, thoughtful decorating.