There is an increase in the number of seniors choosing to stay in their homes rather than moving into assisted living facilities. With the rise of our older generation staying within their homes it is important that we as caregivers know how to provide an environment free of obstacles that may hinder the homes accessibility.
Many age in place home renovations can be done by do it yourselfers but others such as the installation of wheelchair ramps require hiring an outside contractor. The list below will provide you with some easy tips on renovating the home to provide a safe living environment to grow old.
One easy tip is removing loose rugs and carpets. This may not sound like a big deal but this easy and inexpensive tip makes a large impact. If it is impractical to remove the rugs secure them with the use of double sided sticky tape. Loose rugs and carpets increase the risk that comes along with falling as one ages. A fall in your twenties is totally different than a fall in your sixties. Bones are brittle and are at an increased risk of breaking. The healing process is also not the same. All rugs and carpets should either be removed or secured to prevent accidents from the loss of mobility we experience as we age.
Consider updating hard to use appliances. Seniors tend to have issues with mobility and bending in general. Limit the need for them to stretch or excessively bend. This can be done with simple appliance updates such as a new raised front loading washer and dryer. The basic goal in updating appliances is finding models that adapt to the changing needs we experience as we age.
Replace the handles on cabinets and doors throughout the home. Lever style door handles are much easier to use and require much less effort to open them. Seniors with arthritis will find traditional doors hard to open. Cabinet pulls make cabinets easier to open as well. These simple changes are effective and inexpensive. Little updates make life much easier with aging joints.
Another simple change that makes life easier on seniors is replacing old style light switches to new style rocker switches. Arthritis can be an incredibly debilitating disease that makes seniors unable to accomplish the simplest of tasks. Rocker style light switches make turning the lights on and off simple.
The most important tip of all is to update the bathroom. Most accidents when it comes to seniors happens in the bathroom. Make the switch from a traditional style tub to a no threshold shower with a bench and grab bars. It is also important that you replace the smaller traditional toilets with a higher toilet. This will make getting up off of the toilet much easier alleviating the strain that comes with getting up off of the toilet.
Seniors thrive when allowed to continue to live independently. It is important to allow them the freedom that comes when still in your own living environment instead of moved to a retirement home. The tips included in this article will start you on your way to providing a safe place to continue to live the life they want.