Christmas Tree Safety Tips for Your Elderly Parent’s Home

By Marlene Diaz | November 24, 2017 |

The Christmas tree is an iconic part of the holiday season, and for many families it makes its appearance on or near Thanksgiving. As a family caregiver you want to make sure that your parent’s home is kept safe and secure for the holidays, but you also want to encourage them to be festive and enjoy the emotional boost of celebrating the season. Taking the time to ensure the safety of their tree can ensure they can experience the joy of the holidays without the risk.

Some safety tips for your parent’s Christmas tree include:

If your parent insists on having a real tree, ensure that it is fresh without dry needles that may be flammable. If not, select an artificial tree for easier setup and less flammability.

Home Care Services Tacoma WA – Christmas Tree Safety Tips for Your Elderly Parent’s Home

Set up the tree at least three feet away from any heat source, such as a space heater, furnace, or fireplace
If possible, choose a prelit tree to avoid the need to string lights.
Discourage your senior from trying to plug in their lights themselves if they deal with mobility issues.
Use lights with a pedal or request that your parent wait for you or their home care provider light them.
Check all lights before putting them on the tree and replace any that are old, outdated, or frayed.
Remember that contemporary LED lights are more efficient and burn cool, making them safer.

Being a family caregiver for an elderly adult can be extremely challenging, but fortunately home care services are there for you. A home care services provider can make a tremendous difference in your parent’s quality of life, and in your life as well. The highly personalized services of this care provider can ensure that your aging parent’s individual needs, challenges, and limitations are met in ways that are right for them.

This not only helps them to stay healthy, happy, comfortable, and safe, but also promotes greater independence, activity, and fulfillment as they age in place. For you, this can ease your stress and allow you to step back some from your parent’s care efforts, enabling you to focus on other needs in your life such as your children, your partner, your career, and yourself. This not only protects your health and well-being, but allows you to give the effort you can as effectively, efficiently, and meaningfully as possible.

Source: http://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/By-topic/Seasonal-fires/Winter-holiday-safety/Christmas-tree-fires

If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care Services in Tacoma WA, contact the caring staff at Hospitality Home Care today. Call us at (206) 966-6552.

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Marlene Diaz

Care Supervisor at Hospitality Home Care

Marlene brings to Hospitality Home Care's Care Supervisor Team an unprecedented level of passion for caring for others and a wealth of knowledge and understanding in the care services field. Marlene has worked in the healthcare field for more than 15 years in a variety of settings including, adult family home administration, home care HR supervising and working with specialty populations including dementia, mental health and developmental disabilities. Throughout this time Marlene has also maintained her caregiver credentials that she obtained as a teenager because, while her knowledge is best served helping to train caregivers and assist families to get the care they need, her heart is most fulfilled when she is providing care to others. When she is not in the office, you will most likely find Marlene caring for her family, or spending time with her friends.