Outdoor safety tips

To ensure safety outdoors:

• Check exits. If the person with dementia uses a walker or wheelchair, make sure he or she will be able to get in and out of your home — when necessary. Consider widening doorways or adding ramps.
• Keep steps safe. Mark the edges of steps with bright tape. Keep steps sturdy and textured to prevent falls in wet or icy weather.
• Restrict access to the pool. If you have a swimming pool or hot tub, surround it with a fence. Install a gate with a lock. Cover the pool or hot tub when it's not in use.
• Avoid clutter. Keep hoses, foliage and other debris off the walkways.
• Safely store fuel sources. Remove fuel sources for your grill or other equipment when not in use.