For some people, assisted living facilities are great ideas. They love socialization, love having people to help out when they need it, and have the option of cooking their food or going down to the dining area to eat with others. But other people prefer to stay at home and age in place.
Those that prefer to stay home do so for a variety of reasons. Their families may be worried about nursing home neglect or abuse, sustaining serious injuries from a fall while in a nursing home, or that their loved one may lose their community relationships. No matter the reason they are remaining in their home, steps need to happen to ensure they are safe and comfortable.
No-Step Entry
A no-step entry is when instead of having steps to enter the house, it’s flat, making it easier to navigate. The main benefit of removing the steps is it lowers the risk of trips and falls. Falls are the leading way that seniors get injured in their homes. Since their bones are not as strong as they used to be, they break much easier.
Some people don’t want to have an entry without steps; luckily, there are other options. One of the options is installing a ramp. There are a lot of benefits to having a ramp added to the house. The first one you probably think about is using a wheelchair. Although this is true, and one of the main reasons people choose to add the ramp, there are other benefits too. People with disabilities have a safer path of entry without any changes in the ground.
Weatherproof Windows and Doors
When people start aging, their circulation decreases, blood vessels lose their elasticity, which makes blood move slower throughout our bodies. This is why you notice older people become colder and will often notice the heat is turned up to 80 when you go in their house. To help them stay warm year-round, you should weatherproof the home.
Weatherproofing the home is pretty simple. Get some weatherstripping for windows, apply the stripping along the inside of it, then shut and lock it. When sealing the window, most builders advise you to make sure there are no cracks and check the structure itself.
Widen Doors and Hallways
If Mastercraft doors in the home are too narrow, it can be challenging to go in and out, especially when using a wheelchair or a walker. A wider door also makes it so two people can easily enter or exit the room as needed. When widening the doorways, there are a few other things you should do too.
Make sure that the door to the home swings inwards instead of outwards. Replace round door handles with ones that are levered. This change is essential because turning knobs becomes more difficult as we age due to declining dexterity and arthritis. If there are thresholds in the home, do your best to remove them, if it’s not possible, make sure they are no taller than half an inch.
Increase Bathroom Safety
Bathrooms can be an accident waiting to happen. Getting in and out of the tub, stepping out of the shower onto a slippery floor, and getting off the toilet can all be challenging for aging adults. Purchasing new showers, tubs, and toilets is costly and can eat up your savings. Instead of having to revamp your entire bathroom, below are a few ideas to make this room safer.
Built-in shower seats – Built-in shower seats are a great idea if they are placed in the correct area of the shower. If they are too far back, it is difficult to use the showerhead and change the temperature. If you ultimately want to avoid this issue, you can get a home shower chair. There used to be limited types of these chairs available, but now you can get almost any design you want, including ones that fold up.
Tub bath lift – A bath lift is a seat or cushion that lowers you into the bathtub. There are different types of lifts; some are controlled by a battery, some are hydraulically controlled, and others are inflatable. Each of these is a great choice. All you have to decide is which one works best for you. A few more ways to make bathing easier are to make sure you have non-slip mats in the bathroom and install grab bars. If you already have grab bars installed, check to make sure they are secure.
Raised toilet seats – Getting on and off of the toilet can be challenging. That is why raised toilet seats are so beneficial. The seats raise the toilet by three to four inches, making it easier to sit down. If you do decide to buy one of these, try to find ones that have bars on the side so they can push up when they stand. Also, make sure there are handrails installed by the toilet.
Baby boomers are less inclined than previous generations to go to an assisted living facility. This can be for many different reasons; For one, they just don’t want to move, and more importantly, they can stay home and continue living independent lives with a few home modifications. Aging at home helps to improve seniors’ quality of life, therefore improving their physical and mental health.
