Most people would rather stay in their own home than move into a senior care facility. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with care facilities–they perform a very important function for the elderly folk in our communities. They aren’t right for everyone, though.
Staying in the home is typically preferred, but not everyone has a home that is conducive to meeting the needs of seniors. This can happen for a variety of reasons: narrow hallways, loose rugs or clutter, a lack of handles or railings in key areas, or too many stairs or steps. Some of these things are easy fixes, some aren’t.
My goal with this brief blog post is to highlight a couple easy home repairs or adaptations that can help you or an older loved one stay in the home for longer.
The first is installing supports in the bathroom. Handholds near the toilet can be especially helpful. For lack of a more delicate phrase, everyone has to sit down on the toilet from time to time. Ensuring that someone can get up without risking a fall is important. The same is true in the shower. These are both high risk areas where the chances that someone might fall greatly increase. Seniors are at a higher risk of a serious injury because of conditions like osteoporosis, muscle loss, and other conditions. In addition to handholds, it can also be helpful to invest in a toilet chair and/or a bath chair. Installing a no-slip mat in the shower can help, too.
Installing senior friendly furniture or assists might be necessary, too. A lift that can help someone go up the stairs more easily is one of the first things that comes to mind, but it’s not the only addition that can help. Armchairs that assist with standing up and beds that are adjustable and have railings to help prevent falls are other examples that might benefit you.
It is also important that lighting be addressed. Eyesight can diminish with age, and making sure that the home is well-lit, especially in high traffic areas, is one way to accommodate for this. Having an electrician install high quality overhead lighting can go a long way toward promoting safety.
At the end of the day, the remodeling projects you take on to help your older loved one should be determined by the needs that they have, and how easily the home can be adapted to meet those needs. Some people are quite handy and can do modifications like this without much effort. Some projects might require you to hire a professional to accomplish them. Some might be extremely helpful while others won’t be necessary at all. Each situation is unique.
The end goal is to keep your loved ones safe. We’re here to help with that from a care vantage point. If you’d like to learn more about Paradise In-Home Care and how we can help your family thrive in a care setting, please feel free to reach out. We’d be happy to talk more.
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