Safety and risk

It is not possible, or desirable, to remove all risks. Risk is inherent to living well.

Risk and quality of life must be balanced. It is important to ask what risk is acceptable to the person. Understanding the person’s story can help understand what the person may have accepted as a reasonable risk to take in living well. The Support Person, if available, should be included in this conversation. 

Document the conversation and decisions made about safety and risk with the person and their Support Person.

Safety issues may include:

  • Falls
  • Medication use
  • Smoking
  • Alcohol
  • Use of gas stoves and fires
  • Appropriate use of heating and cooling
  • Appropriate clothing
  • Hoarding
  • Going out alone

It may be appropriate to reduce risk to safety by, for example, removing ladders, reducing access to alcohol or disabling gas stoves. But these decisions must be made in consideration of a person’s autonomy and quality of life. The person should be included in this decision-making.

Elder abuse

People living with dementia are vulnerable to financial abuse. Further information can be found here.

Resources

Dementia Australia has a useful help sheet on Safety Issues.

Referrals for home safety assessments can be arranged through My Aged Care.

District Nursing Services and Community Service Providers can carry out daily safety checks if required.

Safety Pendants are available through

  • Safety Link 1800 813 617
  • MEPACS 1800 451 300
  • Personal Alarm Victoria (funded) 1800 451 300