A while ago, we ran a few articles on senior care hacks. These are great ways to help yourself make life easier when caring for an elderly loved one, but did you know that there are easy little hacks that you can help an elderly loved one with to help them improve their health. The end goal with these little changes could be a better quality of life, staying out of a nursing home for longer, or just a simpler life. They are surprisingly simple, and they can help your older mother or father to age in place with fewer complications.
Install tub, toilet, and other bathroom handles. This will reduce the risk of a fall significantly. The bathroom is the place where this happens most often, and by making it easier to get in and out of this room safely, you are giving your loved one a chance to avoid injury and reduce the risk of a disability as a result. Many people do end up in nursing homes because of a sudden decrease in mobility, and a disability through injury can make this happen in just moments. You can also add no slip strips into the tub, too, for added protection.
Tape down loose rugs. This is another one that reduces the risk of injury. By making it so rugs cannot curl up, there’s far less of a chance of tripping over carpets when you do this, and again, it helps your parent to stay out of the hospital or nursing home. It also makes it easier for wheelchairs to navigate throughout the house if this is needed. As people age, there is more of a likelihood of this happening. It’s easy to do this, and can reduce the danger at home.
Add tabs to zippers. This is something that many people do not think of on their own, but it makes getting dressed on your own so much easier, especially when arthritis is an issue. Adding an easy to grip pull tab to zippers will also speed up the process and reduce the frustration that they may be having when getting ready for each day.
Install bed rails. These serve a dual purpose. Rails can make getting in and out of bed a lot easier while also reducing the risk of falling. These need to be installed properly and securely so that over time they don’t become a safety hazard. Whoever you have install them should check them to make sure that they are still working properly every so often.
Install motion sensor lighting in the house. This is common for many homes with their outdoor lights, but in the house, this is not used often. However, it can reduce the need for walking around a lot, keep people safer by not having to travel as far throughout the house, and reduce electricity bills at the same time. These can often be installed without a professional, but if need be, the labor is usually very cheap to install a motion sensor that will accomplish what you need it to.
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