Adapting A Home For An Elderly Person

 

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Aging is a natural part of life and although our needs may change as we grow older, this doesn't mean that aging needs to make life any more difficult for us.

With age, our mobility may weaken and tasks that were once so easy, may become a lot more effort for us. Learning to adapt, not only physically, but also in our surroundings, is important in helping us to navigate our homes more easily in our elder years.

A lot of families may have elderly relatives living with them. This may be because the elderly person may no longer be able to live by themselves due to restricted mobility, etc. and may feel safer living with their children and their families.

Unfortunately, a lot of houses simply aren't ideal for elderly people. Older houses may have steep stairs which aren't easy for someone of restricted or weakened mobility to navigate multiple times on a daily basis. Older homes also may only have one bathroom and this is usually located upstairs.

Obviously, living in a bungalow would be ideal for an elderly person, however, these can be few and far between and may be a lot more expensive than a double-storey property, therefore, houses need to be adapted to best help elderly people to continue living there.

Most new build houses seem to be getting smaller and smaller in size, making it harder for people who may need to use walking aids, etc. to have enough space to manoeuvre around furniture, steps, etc.

What can be done to make an elderly person's home more suitable and comfortable for their needs?

Here's a helpful room by room guide:

Landing/stairs

If your home has a stairs, it may be worth considering stairlifts for improved accessibility. Stairlifts are easy to use, make it much easier for an elderly person to access the top floor of a double-storey home and stairlifts can be made to fit comfortably on stairs, meaning there's still room for people to walk up and down the stairs if they so wish.

There are straight and curved stairlift options available, meaning that a stairlift should be able to be installed in your home, no matter what way your stairs is positioned.

Bathroom

The bathroom can be a hard space for an elderly person to access, especially if the space is small, however, it's also a room that can be fully adapted to make it more user friendly.

Replacing a bath with a walk-in shower is a great idea for elderly people whose movement might be restricted and may make it difficult to step in over a bath, it's also a lot safer. Walk-in showers may also take up a lot less space.

If you have the option, adding a wet room to the downstairs of your home is another great option for elderly people.

Handrails can be added by the toilet and sink for extra support when moving about.

Living Room

In the living room, it's best to avoid trip hazards by not having anything on the floor. An electric reclining chair is a great option for elderly people, to help them get up and down with ease and also great for napping during the day.

Kitchen

Having non-slip flooring in a kitchen is a great addition for an elderly person so that they don't have to worry about falls.

Bedroom

Placing a sturdy chair by their wardrobe is a simple thing too, but great for giving them an area to sit while they get dressed, put on shoes, etc.

Electric adjustable beds may also be helpful for helping your loved one to get up out of bed easily in the morning, or, if this isn't an option, having a lower bed frame or mattress can help them to get in and out of bed more easily.

Hopefully these solutions will help you to help elderly family members be more comfortable in their own homes or your home if they live with you.