When An Elderly Relative Might Benefit from Some Electrical Safety Assistance

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If there's one certainty in life, it's aging. If you have an elderly relative who wants to maintain their independence and yet maybe needs a little assistance, ensuring that their home's electrical components meets their needs can be a big help. It's not as though their entire home needs to be refitted, and yet there are a few simple modifications that can make their home all the more livable (and safe).

An Electrical Safety Audit

The first step can often be a comprehensive assessment. If your elderly relative has been living in their home for quite some time, and it has also been quite some time since the home's electrical components were inspected, this should be arranged. A qualified electrician can do the safety audit, and this will involve an inspection of all electrical fittings to identify any areas of concern. It really might have been decades since such an inspection was performed.

Electrical Outlets

The addition of some extra electrical outlets can make a big difference. It's a very straightforward job for an electrician, and some strategically positioned electrical outlets can reduce the need for extension cords, thus removing a potential tripping hazard. It's a simple and inexpensive modification that can make your elderly relative's home much safer.

The Oven

In the event of mild senility or dementia, kitchen safety can become paramount. The thought of your elderly relative forgetting that the oven is turned on can be rather unsettling. The precise type of device will vary depending on the type of oven installed in the kitchen, but you can easily fit an oven guard. This is a small device that is attached to the oven and automatically kills its power source after an alloted period of time has expired (or if a certain temperature is exceeded). This means that there is no chance of the oven being left on, and gas ovens can be fitted with an isolation valve which halts the oven's gas supply after a certain amount of time.

Individual Appliances

While an electrical safety audit will cover the home's fittings, you should also take a look at individual appliances. Discard and replace any that have frayed cords, and if necessary, ensure that your elderly relative's electric kettle and iron have an automatic shut-off function, as these particular items can easily be turned on and then forgotten about.

Helping your elderly relative safely maintain their independence really doesn't need all that much work, and yet it can truly make a difference.

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6 December 2017

Understanding the Electrical System In Your Home

Most modern Australian homes rely heavily on electrical power. Unfortunately, not many people realise just how much they rely on electrical power until the power supply to their home is disrupted in some way. There are a number of steps you can take which will help to protect the electricity supply to your home. I am not an electrical contractor, but after a couple of power failures, I have learnt an awful lot from the professional contractors who came out to repair the wiring and fuses in my home. I hope this blog will help you to keep the lights on in your property.