As our loved ones age, they lose their autonomy and may pose difficulty moving around and carrying out their daily tasks. In the case of an elderly person who lives at home, it will be necessary to adapt his or her home to ensure maximum safety and comfort based on the needs of the golden age.

One of the most common mistakes is not planning in advance home renovations to meet the needs of the elderly, so they are only taken into account when the elderly has already suffered a fall or an accident at home.

In order to avoid these problems, it’s recommended to adapt your home from the moment you notice that your aging parent is losing their autonomy and mobility. And here are the key modifications to consider.

Adapting a House for the Elderly

It is important to improve the safety and comfort of our loved ones’ homes and not wait until they are too old or suffer from some type of disability. Seniors with limited mobility may benefit greatly from choosing the right mobility aid to navigate their homes safely and maintain their independence. Consider Marc’s Mobility for a wide selection of mobility solutions that can be tested before purchase.

A simple injury at this age may have serious consequences and trigger other health problems. For this reason, it is necessary to start adapting the home as soon as possible.

Basic Tips: Safe Housing for Seniors

• Remove obstacles that hinder the passage and mobility of the elderly: flower pots, unstable tables, carpets, etc. Although these may be valuable objectives for the elderly, the true usefulness of these elements must be considered so that they do not prevent them from being able to move easily.
• All rooms should be perfectly lit to facilitate good vision and avoid the risk of falls. Good lighting creates a more comfortable and welcoming environment for the elderly person. Similarly, light sensors that detect their movements can also be purchased. They are ideal for spaces such as hallways or living rooms.
• Check the size of the doors that facilitate the passage of the elderly person in the case of using a wheelchair, as well as how they can be removed if necessary.
• Pay attention to the rugs in the home. The important thing is that they must be non-slip rubber rugs. Otherwise, it is best to remove them to avoid tripping or falling.
• The kitchen and bathroom cupboards should be kept tidy. This will prevent the difficulty of finding an object. Corner protectors can also be used to prevent possible injuries.
• Seniors should have access to a phone at all times. The phone should have numbers large enough to be easily visible.

Things to Consider Before Making Changes to Your Home

Adapting the home to the needs of older people does not have to be an immediate and radical process. In fact, it is best to implement these changes as these new needs arise so that this transformation is not traumatic.

Let us not forget that at an advanced age, any change in habits or environment can have psychological and emotional consequences. We will avoid this negative impact if we act progressively and according to the particularities of each moment.

In addition to taking things step by step, it would be a good idea to take these recommendations into account to save yourself problems, time, and money.

Adapting an elderly person’s home does not mean turning it into something foreign. It is important that our elders continue to have the feeling that they are at home, surrounded by their memories and the things they like. There are many objects such as photographs, cushions, blankets, or certain pieces of furniture that do not pose a danger and that give identity to the rooms. As far as possible, they try to keep them if they do not entail risks.

Less is more. Sometimes, it is not so much a question of adding security devices to the home but of minimizing the risk of accidents. Open spaces, lightly packed shelves, or well-organized cupboards are a good starting point.

How to Senior-Proof an Elderly Person’s Home

Bathroom

Most falls in elderly people occur in the bathroom. In order for an elderly person to be able to safely carry out their daily hygiene, it is essential to adapt the room to their needs.

We recommend installing grab bars to facilitate entering and exiting the shower, as well as placing a shower seat and a non-slip shower tray. If a shower tray is not available, place non-slip mats inside and outside the shower. Install a chair to place clothes and place a dehumidifier since humidity can make some surfaces slippery, causing a fall.

Kitchen

The kitchen is another space where there is a risk of falling or suffering an injury. To avoid accidents, it is necessary to make some adjustments.

Install sliding doors in the kitchen and cupboards, as they are less dangerous and reduce the risk of bumps and injuries. Lights should also be placed in dark cupboards to better see their contents. For cooking, install induction hobs with a heat level indicator to avoid burns and gas leaks.

Choose appliances that are easy to maintain: ovens and microwaves with side doors. Additionally, you can install a smoke detector in the kitchen. This is an inexpensive device that can be easily obtained on the Internet or in large stores and installed without the need for specific knowledge. They work with batteries, and if there is smoke in the room or a sudden change in temperature, they emit a powerful audible signal that warns of danger.

Elderly Person’s Bedroom

The bedroom is a very important room to facilitate the care of the elderly. Sometimes, the bedroom is on the second floor inside the house. If possible, place the bed on the ground floor to limit the efforts of the elderly person when going to sleep and getting up. Otherwise, a stair lift should be installed.

It is also recommended to place the bedroom close to the bathroom. Obstacles and unnecessary furniture should be removed to facilitate the mobility of the elderly person if they get up during the night.

The bed should be adapted to the elderly person. It should not be too high, as this could cause falls. But it should not be too low either, to avoid the risk of having to bend over too much or having difficulty getting up.

If the person has to spend a lot of time in bed, a comfortable mattress and pillow should be provided, ideal for adapting to the needs of the elderly person. Electric beds are highly recommended, as they facilitate access when going to bed and getting up.

Place a chair close to the bed to put on clothes. The bedside table should be at the correct height in relation to the bed so that it allows access to it without having to get up. Place the telephone, a glass of water, and medicines on the bedside table. If a rug is placed in the bedroom, it should be non-slip. Get a light switch at the entrance to the bedroom and another one near the bed.

Living Room

The living room is the space where the elderly spend the most time, where they usually carry out their activities or receive visitors, so it is important that they feel comfortable through the use of comfortable and ergonomic sofas. These sofas do not have to be very high or low, but rather, they should make it easy for the user to sit down and get up.

Just as it’s recommended to place a telephone in the senior’s bedroom, also place one in the living room, preferably a cordless one, so that the elderly person will not be in a hurry to get up to answer it, and possible falls can be avoided.

The important thing is to keep the room clear, with enough space to facilitate the passage of the elderly person, especially if they use a wheelchair.

Conclusion

Having a home adapted to the needs of an elderly person makes their daily life easier, contributes to their well-being, and increases their quality of life. When our loved ones grow older, we must provide them with all the comforts so that they can maintain their independence for as long as possible and continue to live in the environment that is most comfortable and rewarding for them. The home upgrading tips above should help provide a comfy place for your dearest and nearest.