Gas and Electricity Safety at Home

My husband has left the hob on twice, and one time I smelled gas when I got home. He's alone for part of the day, and I'm terrified a tragedy might happen. What can I do to make the house safe?

Living with the constant fear of a gas leak or fire is exhausting. Your fear is completely justified, and there are concrete measures that significantly reduce this risk.

Why it happens

As dementia progresses, the person may forget to turn off appliances, lose their sense of danger, and no longer associate the smell of gas with a threat. Tasks that were once automatic can become sources of accidents.

Practical strategies

• Install a gas and smoke detector with an audible alarm.
• Ask a technician to install a safety shut-off valve or timer on the gas supply; consider replacing a gas hob with an electric or induction hob (safer, cools down quickly).
• Remove or switch off risky appliances at the main fuse box when the person is alone.
• Use devices with automatic shut-off (irons, heaters).
• Increase supervision during meals and simplify access to the kitchen.

What NOT to do

• Do not rely solely on reminders or notes: memory becomes unreliable.
• Do not leave matches and lighters within reach.

When to seek professional help

If the person spends many hours alone with these risks, it's a sign that they need more supervision. Speak to your GP and inquire with Social Security (300 502 502) about home support. In a gas emergency, leave the house and call 112.

"I replaced the gas hob with an induction hob. It was the best money I ever spent; I stopped going to work with a heavy heart." — Anonymous Carer