Growing up, every human being
rejoices the moment when they are able to do a task independently for the first
time. This is the reason why it is sometimes very hard for some people to face
the fact that yet once again they cannot be independent and require assistance
in their day-to-day life. For most, the moment of dependency can be postponed
or even permanently canceled by adjusting the home they live in.
Think about the sleeping area
Every member of the household has a
place to sleep. When considering a bedroom for a senior, bear in mind that
their health and dexterity might deteriorate with time. Regardless of the fact
that they now are capable of climbing the stairs, they may not always be, so
try to find a room on the ground floor. There may not be one at the moment, but
perhaps you can put down some walls and rearrange the rooms. If this is not an
option, install a stair lift or at least be ready to install one once there is
a need for it, don’t let it catch you off guard. Assess the needs of your
elderly occupant and get the furniture which will suit them the best. Usually
higher beds and firm mattresses allow people to get up easier.
Modify the bathroom
This is an area where we are
particularly accustomed to being alone. However, this is a slippery place and
we need to try to make it as safe as possible.
I suggest you replace your conventional bath tub with a shower
so to make it easily accessible even for wheelchair users. Place a seat in the
shower as it may be easier for an elderly person to take a shower sitting down.
Install rails in the shower, next to the toilet and next to the sink.
Consider adjusting the kitchen
One of the first things to consider
when doing this is to rearrange the furniture so there is enough space to move
around even in a wheelchair. Speaking of wheelchair users, have countertops on
several levels so they can be easily used while in a wheelchair or sitting down.
Lower the cupboards or rearrange the cooking
equipment, spices, and food so as to be at the elderly persons reach as they
may fall down trying to reach something from the top shelf. Make sure that the
stove and other appliances have easily accessible controls and can be reached
from the sitting-down position.
Adapt the communal area
As an elderly person, you want to
feel welcome in the home you live in and you do not want to come across
obstacles on regular basis. Remove certain pieces of furniture so to make the
area easy to maneuver. Similar to the bed mentioned above, get furniture which
will be practical for sitting down and getting up with appropriate arm and foot
rests. Take down doorsteps between rooms as they are easy to trip on and can be
an obstacle for a wheelchair. Get different carpets or remove them altogether
as they can be easy to slip on. Keep your house tidy as elderly people can have
bad eyesight and balance issues and you do not want them to trip on your
clutter. Improve the lighting in the entire house so as to make it easier for
them to see where they are stepping. Install a ramp and a rail at the entrance
to your house so your beloved senior can easily access the house without
needing help from anyone.
Keep them Safe
Keep your elderly occupants safe from
intruders, fire, flood etc. Once again try to keep them at the ground level in
order to avoid them having to use any electrical equipment in case of emergency.
Install appropriate alarms and protective systems. Equip your house with a
video intercom so they know exactly who is ringing the doorbell. Senior Services professionals and Aged care providers
based in Sydney recommend using
personal telecare alarm devices to make sure someone is there for them even if
you are not around. They can simply press the button when they feel that they
need assistance.
This can be a never-ending list depending on the
particular needs of a senior person. The most important is to have them help
you assess or hire a professional to help you assess their needs. Depending on
your countries health care and benefits system, you can get the funding or a
return on investment for a lot of the adjustments you have made to your home to accommodate a senior family member,
particularly the medical aids and equipment they have been recommended with.
Related source: Home and flooring modifications for seniors
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