It is a personal choice to continue living at home in old age. This might be made more difficult if you are reliant on others for help because of poor health, disabilities, or illness-related problems. However, there are various methods to make living in your own house more comfortable. Simple measures can be used to redesign a residence for elderly folks.
The most crucial aspect
It frequently makes sense to reconsider the furnishings of one’s own four walls in order to make everyday living simpler for seniors or to reduce the danger of falls. There are technological and human solutions for elderly persons to keep their independence at home. As an example, consider care services. Finally, competent home care is a key aspect in ensuring the comfort of elderly persons who live at home. Selling one’s own home and relocating to an accessible apartment is another potential alternative.
The home’s adaption
The ability to continue living at home despite a physical or mental handicap is a personal choice. Adapting the house is the first step toward more freedom and lowering the risk of accidents. Securing the house and customizing it to an older person’s needs may frequently keep elders comfortable, allowing them to dwell at home and go about their daily activities. This can be used in addition to occupational or familial human assistance. Home modifications can serve as both a preventive and a supporting measure.
Living without limitations
The ability to come and go as they want adds to the physical and psychological balance of older people on a daily basis. Maintaining social connections with the outside world is critical for everyone’s well-being. It’s also sometimes about making it simpler to get in and out of the house and avoiding falls and mishaps. A good first step is to avoid dark locations and, in the case of automatic devices (for example, with presence sensors), to tune the timing to the person’s rhythm. The floor should be non-slip in areas where people move, as well as in rooms like the restroom. Stairs with handrails that are brightly illuminated and have an ideal step height (6 to 8 inch), with edges that can be marked with a bright color and a non-slip surface. Doors with door closers make them easier and less burdensome to use.
There is activity in your house.
Access to the residence from the outside is critical, but movement within the home should also be monitored to avoid falls. A few commonsense safeguards are sometimes all that is required. Limit the quantity of rugs on the floor or use double-sided tape to fasten them. If feasible, run a few electrical cables on the floor and position electrical outlets at the same height as light switches. Be cautious of temporary extension cords: they are frequently overlooked until you step over them.
The inside
A property can also be modified on a bigger scale, particularly in order to modify sanitary facilities, bathrooms, and kitchens. To make it simpler for individuals to stand up, sanitary facilities might be supplied with an elevation or grab bars on both sides of the toilet. To satisfy the requirements of older persons, bathrooms sometimes require extensive modification. A bathtub should feature a non-slip floor as well as grab bars. A bathtub with a door can help with a variety of tasks. A seat and grab bars can be added to the shower. To avoid scorching, pay close attention to faucets and mixer taps, as well as water temperature settings. Work surfaces and easy access to electrical equipment should be prioritized in the kitchen. An induction stove is less likely to cause burns than an electric stove with radiant heaters.
Straightforward suggestions for age-appropriate renovation.
Living alone at home as an elderly person is conceivable provided the home has been properly updated and is safe from falls. It doesn’t often take much to enhance an elderly person’s everyday life and offer them more independence. The goal to integrate older people’s well-being, safety, and accessibility with their autonomy and independence is vital.
Keep the bathroom safe.
Two items should be prioritized in an elderly person’s bathroom:
- Safety equipment.
- Access to sanitary facilities is simple (bathtub, shower, toilet).
Non-slip floors, grab bars, a curtain or splash guard: there is a plethora of equipment and accessories available to make the bathroom safer and more accessible.
Rethink the room configuration.
Distances are shorter if the bedroom is closer to the toilet and bathroom. If a home is to be sold and relocation is a possibility, it should be built on the ground level if possible.
Clear the clutter from the room.
Falls can be caused by low furniture, carpets, and electrical cables on the floor. Part of this danger may be readily mitigated by cleaning the room, particularly the passages and areas around the bed.
Lighting
Everywhere, enough illumination with no dark places is required Light switches should ideally be placed at an adequate height at the entrance to each room. Plan your support spots A carefully placed piece of furniture in the house, or a support bar fastened to the correct wall: these are two basic techniques to aid movement throughout the house. They can both support and guide you. As a result, such support points should be installed in all of the house’s rooms and corridors.
Modify furnishings
In addition, furniture that has been readily transformed is a big assistance in making everyday duties easier:
- A bed with a slatted frame and a remote mechanism to elevate the back gives additional practical comfort.
- A chair seat that has been strengthened.
- A cabinet with an adjustable-height handle.
- A raised bed with taller feet or wooden wedges.
Create optical Contrasts
This is a route that may be used to treat visual or cognitive impairments. When a hue is associated with a piece of furniture, its purpose can be determined, making it easier to move throughout the house. How easy can this be implemented? Colored handles on doors and cabinets, colored marks on household appliance knobs, or even colored stripes to signify a change in flooring are all examples of how to achieve this.
Reorganize the cabinets
Moving utilitarian objects to the most accessible cabinets is a good idea that can help a lot of things.
Automation
Automating specific activities improves home security and enables for remote control or scheduled programming of:
- Heating
- Gates
- Shutters
On request, we can carry out a free Home Safety Assessment for our customers. We have an eye for potential dangers and will be happy to advise you on how to eliminate them. Call us at (214) 609-1340
