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As your parents age, one of your biggest concerns should be how to make their home safe for them. This is especially true if they have caught the “age in place” bug, especially common among the baby boomer generation.
It is an understandable phenomenon – Your parents want to age in the comfort of their home, in a familiar environment, filled with good memories. Where your parents live during their later years plays an important role in their quality of life, as this has the greatest impact on their independence, social connections, feelings of self worth, as well as their physical and emotional well-being.
If it is possible for them to live in place, you may have to step in and help make their home safe and secure. Here is an essential guide to consider when age-proofing the home for your parents.
Tip #1: Safe-proofing the Bathroom
The bathroom is one of the most dangerous places for an elderly person. Due to excess moisture, it is one of the easiest places to fall.
A great place to start is the shower – consider installing a walk-in shower. Doing this removes their risk of lifting a leg to get into the bath tub and falling as a result. If your budget is limited, then you can get an expert to install grip-friendly handrails on each sides of the bath tub.
Also ensure the shower or bathtub has a shower seat. They likely struggle to stand for a long time at this age, so make using everyday necessities easier for them. Get a carpenter to install a low shelf, this makes it easy for them to reach for soap and any other accessories they use while bathing.
Lastly, good lighting is a must-have. You can install sensors that switch between day and night lighting automatically, so that they don’t get blinded by the bright rays when they get up to use the bathroom at night.
Tip #2: Safe-proofing the Stairs and Walkways
Ideally, you want your parents to stay in a building with little to no staircases. But, parents will be parents, and insist on using their second story.
If this is the case, you want to install motion-sensor lighting on all the walkways and staircases. These lighting help illuminate the walkways at night. Repair any uneven floors, broken tiles and crumbling concrete to eliminate any unpleasant surprises as they make their way through.
And then, the stairs. Sturdy railings with non-slip textured surface to help with their grip as they climb. The best option would be stair lifts such as the ones at motobility. Depending on your preference and structure of the stairs, installations should take between 2 to 8 hours.
Tip #3: Modify the Kitchen
The kitchen is one other dangerous area you must age-proof. The drawers and cabinets, sinks, and taps are all in need of modification to suit their lifestyle. The drawers and cabinets need to be lowered to a comfortable level for easier access, especially those they use frequently. Also take a look at the knobs, D-shaped pulls are easier to use if they have arthritis. You should also install shallow sinks and taps that are easy to turn on and off.
Lastly, check that the refrigerator has handles that are easy to grip and pull, and its doors are not too heavy. Lighting is also important. You don’t want that nightcap to become a potentially dangerous situation.
Final Thoughts
By now, you should be clear about the importance of age-proofing your parent’s home and how this plays a role in to their physical and emotional well being. Following these tips gets them off to a great start to living out their retirement, and also means you don’t have to worry so much about their safety.
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