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Baby boomers are shifting into a new phase of life, with the youngest of this generation reaching their 50s. As you age, the children grow up, and you near retirement, you just want to put your feet up and relax. You want to take things slow, but your parents are aging too, and they need more of your time and attention now.
Many baby boomers are planning to bring home an elderly parent or relative who is no longer able to live on their own, and that means making sure the house is ready to welcome them. Slips and falls can be extremely dangerous or even fatal in the age your parents are. Safe and secure living areas and pathways, accessible kitchen and bathrooms, and empowering interior design are very essential for aged inhabitants. Redoing homes to suit the needs of your elderly parents requires research, planning, time, and money. It is important that you keep accessibility, safety, comfort, and the personal preferences of your elderly relative in mind while re-designing your home.
Here are a few tips to help you remodel your home if you are planning to house an elderly parent or relative.
1) Secure Flooring
Smooth, slippery floors can be hard to negotiate for aging and unstable feet. You can increase safety by adding anti-slip strips on bathroom floors or applying anti-slip coating. Smaller areas like ramps and decks, as well as high-traffic areas of floors, can be made safer with non-slip tapes that provide a coarse area underfoot, thereby reducing chances of a fall.
Slippery floors in bathrooms and basements can also be rectified using rubber mats. They come in all sizes and shapes, and the texture and surface patterns provide traction and grip, especially in wet areas. Rubber mats are cheap and long-lasting, and are a reliable short-term solution till you get a more permanent flooring option.
Trips are also common causes of injuries in the elderly. While remodeling your home, ensure you lower the thresholds or remove them completely in order to enable easy.
Place non-slip rubber mats beneath area rugs to ensure that there are no slips or trips. But do keep in mind that carpets and area rugs pose problems for wheelchair users and elders using walking assistance. If need be, go for short pile carpets that will not get caught in mobility devices.
2) Make Stairways Safer
Stairways are dangerous if your parent is weak and has trouble walking. Slips and falls are common. It's best if you can avoid your parent using them altogether. If that's not possible, ensure you take every measure you can to make the staircase safe and easy to access.
Well-lit stairways can help avoid a lot of accidents. Overhead light fixtures and wall sconces are great for increasing lighting on stairs. You can also consider installing night-lights into wall outlets to improve visibility if your parent wants to use stairs at night. Defined steps with very visible edges also increase safety of use for elders.
3) Make Things Easy on Hands
Door knobs are increasingly becoming outdated, with most homeowners opting for lever-style door handles. as a matter of fact, Vancouver has banned door knobs entirely, since lever-style handles are more accessible. You should consider doing the same in your house, as aging hands will find them easier to use.
Place a resting bench or side table by the door to assist your parent in opening or locking the door. Tables can free up your hands from packages, keys, and phones. Fumbling with objects in your hand while entering or exiting a home can distract and unbalance your parent, so ensure that there are landing places by the side of all entryways into your home.
4) Brighten up the Home
A well-lit house steeply reduces the chance of accidents.
Exterior portions of your home like porches and doorways should be well lit. Install modern lighting solutions like motion-sensor flood lights to make it easy for your parent to avoid bumping into obstacles on the way in and out.
Light-sensor night lamps in hallways and living areas will ensure that your loved one has no difficulty in seeing, day or night.
Closets and wardrobes are an often-overlooked location that should have adequate lighting. Motion sensor LED wall sconce lights are suitable in closets. Also, there are a range of other options also that you can consider to add wireless lighting to closets.
Another place where adequate lighting is very important is kitchen. Overhead lighting above the sink, stove, and other work areas will help your aged parent to work comfortably. The stove knobs and controls of other devices also need to be visible for ease of use and safety.
5) Make Everything Accessible
Accessibility is of foremost importance for your parent. The elderly often find it difficult to reach for things that are placed high above them, and they may also strain to bend low. Adjustable or lowered shelves and hang bars in closets allow you to reach everything that you need without difficulty. Pull-down drawers and shelves, and push-to-close drawers enable ease of use.
The pattern continues in the kitchen. Dishwashers can also be placed higher to do away with the need to stoop while loading. Side-by-side freezer and refrigerator units are more accessible than bottom-freezer refrigerators. Front-load washers are easier to operate for the elderly. Also, ensure that the washer, drier, and any shelves and work areas are at accessible heights.
6) Invest in a Good Mattress
A good night's sleep is very essential for your parent to feel rejuvenated and energetic the next day. Invest in a good quality mattress that gives support to the spine and is suitable to your parent's sleeping patterns.
Memory foam mattresses and hybrid mattresses that combine foam and springs are great for the elderly. Quality mattresses provide pressure relief and good natural body alignment. Ensure you give comfort the highest priority when choosing a mattress for your loved one.
High quality mattresses often come with a hefty price tag, but bear in mind that exorbitant prices do not guarantee quality. This store will help you find a cheap mattress in Las Vegas with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Conclusion
Caring for your elderly relative requires patience, love, and fortitude. If you have a home that helps you in this task and makes life better for your aged relative or parent, then your role as a caregiver is much easier. Thoughtful modifications can help you achieve an elder-friendly home at a reasonable cost.
