Residential Indoor Safety Through the Eyes of Elderly Users

Abstract

Aim: One of the foundations of a healthy life, the quality of the house and its arrangement accord-ing to the user is important for the older adult who are at risk for home accidents. In this study, it was aimed to examine the security situation of the interior space in the residence for the elderly and to present a table containing the interior space criteria necessary for home safety. Method: 287 older adults with a mean age of 71.80±6.28 years participated in the study. Demographic and descriptive information of the participants were recorded. Home security level was evaluated with the Elderly Home Safety Checklist in Residential Interiors prepared by the researchers. At the end of the study, the participants were trained by interior architects and physiotherapists for interior arrangements and prevention of falls. Results: The majority of the older adults have sufficient natural and artificial lighting (% 90.2), the lighting switches are accessible (% 94.8), the furniture is of appropriate size (% 88.9), and the layout in the interior of their dwellings allows them to move comfortably and safely (% 94.1) reported. However, 54.4% of the partici-pants stated that the furniture was not fixed, 52.3% stated that precautions were not taken on the sharp corners of the furniture and surfaces to prevent injury, 76% stated that there were slippery floors in the interior of the house and 72.8% stated that there were thresholds. Con-clusion: It is thought that home accidents and injuries can be prevented to a large extent by evaluating the homes of the older adults by professionals, taking the necessary regulations and precautions, and spreading information about home accidents, home safety and falls.

Keywords

• older adults
• older adult home safety
• housing
• interior
• falls