Is your home safety-proofed for the elderly?
Keep in mind that seniors often get into accidents because of their impaired senses and mobility. Of all the parts of your home, around 29% of elderly-related accidents happen in the toilet. With that said, the most common injury recorded is falling, with more than 75% of elderly suffering from injuries due to this.
If you want to prevent the elderly from falling, you need the necessary home Modifications to make it fall-proof. There are a lot of changes you can make out there. The more you remodel your house to fit the elderly, the less likely it will be for them to get into accidents.
Here are seven home modifications for seniors:
1. No-Step Entryways
Out of all the things you need to consider, entryways are the first on the list of home modifications for older adults. Barrier-free entryways can make it easier for seniors using a wheelchair to get in and out of their home. That means they maintain independence to go wherever they want even with their movement impairments.
The first thing you need to modify is the walkway leading to the front entrance. It should be free from stairways and feature a slight slope. Putting a ramp is the best way to ensure that seniors in wheelchairs can move around even if you’re not there.
2. Lights
When it comes to growing old, one of the most notable things is deteriorating vision. It makes things harder to see when the lighting condition is poor. What this does to older people is to increase the chances of getting into accidents or unnecessary stress.
Having the proper lighting fixtures makes moving around the house easier and safer. Select bright lights and make sure that their switches are easy-to-access. If your elderly parents have a hard time getting to the switches, consider installing motion-sensor lights to make the entire movement easier.
3. Space and Access
Seniors that use a wheelchair to move about need a lot of space when they move around the house. As such, an excellent way to modify the house is to rearrange the furniture. Look at the items they use on a regular basis and make sure that they can reach it without getting up from their wheelchairs.
Always keep up the effort and make space, so they don’t bump on things whenever they mill about. They don’t need the added guilt of breaking some of the house’s knickknacks whenever. Simply put, ensure that there’s enough space and accessibility for them not to stumble upon anything.
4. Floors
You can reduce the risks of your elderly parents slipping and falling by modifying your floors. A simple way to do this is to apply slip-resistant coatings on surfaces. It’s especially important in the bathroom since the floor can get slippery when they take a bath.
Remove all the rugs since their walkers can get snagged on the carpeting and let them slip if the floors have little friction. As soon as you see any spills on the floor, take care of it and wipe them down. Leaving them uncleaned will increase the chances of unwanted mishaps.
5. Grab Bars
One of the best bathroom modifications for seniors is a grab bar. Install it in the areas where they need the most support and security. If you have a bigger place, you can also place grab bars in a lot of strategic places to encourage them to stay mobile.
Knowing that they’ll have something to grip on when they walk can make them more confident. Personal problems like social isolation due to the lack of mobility are a leading cause of depression. With grab bars, they can move faster, especially when they have CareBuilders to help them with mobility issues.
6. Showers
The daily routine of taking a bath will become an annoying chore when the elderly feel like it’s too complicated. Using walk-in showers make it easier for seniors to get in and out of the bath. This ensures that even in a wet environment, their chances of tripping and slipping stays relatively low.
Modify the fixed showerheads and replace them with handheld showerheads. This gives the elderly with mobility issues a more convenient option since they’re more comfortable with it. Finally, instead of knobs or twist caps, use levers to make it easier for them to toggle the shower.
7. Bed Rails
Even a simple fall from the bed is enough to endanger anyone’s life–more so if you’re a senior. To keep them safe, it’s essential to eliminate as many ways they can fall as possible. A great way to do so is to install small railings at the side of their bed.
The rails keep them from rolling off their beds and falling. Aside from this, it serves as an aid for them whenever they need to get up. They can grab onto it whenever they need to climb in and out of bed or use the bars as a means of lifting themselves up.
Speaking of beds, you need to make sure that their beds are lower. A good way to determine if the bed is low enough is to see if they need to climb into it when they need to lie down. If they do, lower it, so all they need to do is to sit on it.
Learn More Senior-Friendly Home Modifications Today!
Getting old can carry some unexpected changes in people’s lifestyle. To accommodate this, you need home modifications that compensate for their deteriorating physical capabilities. This ensures that they stay confident and safe within their own homes.
Changing the house for seniors can be a costly and time-consuming endeavor. But know that it’s worth all the efforts. Nothing beats the satisfaction and happiness you’ll see once they adapt to the changes you made to ensure mobility, safety, and accessibility.
If you need more advice about caring for the elderly, read more of our posts. We have a lot of informative articles that can help, like this one showcasing how to choose a retirement community.
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