1. Reflect on your home, what risks can you find for anyone in the home where you live?
Imagine that a person with dependency would live in your home. What risks do you think the home would present? Could you adapt the home in some way so that those risks would be minimized? List those adaptations.
2. Define security. What characteristics should a space have so that you feel safe in it?
Case study:
John is a day center user who has moderate dependence associated with the vascular dementia he suffers. The family asks us to help them adapt their home as John has fallen several times in the living room, getting out of bed and getting out of the shower. On top of that, his kids have found everyday objects out of place on several occasions.
The description of John's house is the following:
- Small entrance with a closet, they usually leave the shoes outside the closet next to the door.
- A long hallway with a long carpet.
- In the kitchen, there aren't many cupboards and the utensils for common use are usually on the counter, the table is stuck to the wall and doesn't leave much room for passing.
- In the bathroom, they have removed the bathtub and put in a shower but have not yet installed handles or stools. The floor is made of white tiles.
- The living room is spacious, but there are many objects, such as vases, paintings, plants, chairs, etc. that make the passage and order of the space difficult.
- In John's room there are two beds (one for him and one for his wife) there is very little separation between the beds and a large closet for both.
a) With the information you have about John, think about and list the risks in their home that may pose a danger to John's safety.
b) What advice would you give the family about adapting the home to minimize the risks for John?
