Economics, shared home responsibilities, and support caring for families members make multigenerational living an inviting option. Simple steps will help increase safety for multigenerational families.
- Make sure your home has smoke alarms. You need a smoke alarm on every level, inside each sleeping room, and outside each separate sleeping area. Interconnect the alarms so when one sounds, they all sound.
- Test your alarms at least once a month. Press each test button to make sure it is working.
- Plan your home escape. Share the plan with everyone in the family and guests.
- Smoke alarms may not wake up children. Older adults may not hear the smoke alarm. Assign someone to help children, older adults and people with disabilities escape.
- Make sure your home has bright lighting in stairways to prevent falls.
- Remove clutter to prevent trips and falls and allow for a quick escape.
- Install handrails along the full length of both sides of the stairs.
- The plan should include two ways out of every room and an outside family meeting place.
- If there is a fire, get outside quickly and stay outside. Then call 9-1-1.
For more information please visit the National Fire Protection Association.
