To make sure that your elderly relative’s home is safe for them as they age, the best thing to do is to help them to make repairs and home improvements which can allow them to move around and use their equipment with ease. Read on for some of the best tips for when adapting your relative’s home, allowing them to live independently for longer.
Bathroom Improvements
The bathroom can be a dangerous place for your loved one due to slippery surfaces and excess water. To make the bathroom safer for your elderly relative, you should consider installing a shower seat to sit on when washing. This will reduce the risk of slip and falls and prevent them from having to stand for long periods of time. You can also make their bathroom even safer by renovating the type of shower they are using. Age UK Mobility offers a range of walk in baths and showers for elderly people that mean that they do not have to combat the issues of getting in and out of the bath.
Mobility Aids
Although the cost of adapting your relative’s home can be high, you should also consider a range of mobility aids around the house, especially if your loved one has mobility issues or conditions such as arthritis. Mobility aids can take the form of products such as grab rails, which lend support to your relative when walking around the house, preventing them from falling. You should also consider equipment such as stair lifts, which can take the pressure off climbing the stairs by motorising this action. You may also consider lift chairs which help your relative to get in and out of the chair through its slowly reclining nature.
Changes to Doors
One of the greatest problems when it comes to mobility in the house, however, is the front door. To help your elderly relative, you should make changes to the front door that include adding a ramp for wheelchairs and to make climbing easier. You should also install a light which can help your relative to see any steps which they need to climb when accessing the door. In terms of interior doors, you should widen the door frames around the house to make them easier to walk through, especially if your loved one uses a wheelchair or other forms of walking equipment.
Kitchen Equipment
Kitchens have many risks in them for everyone, but particularly for elderly people. You should consider adding perching stools to the rooms to help your loved one to cook and clean on the counters without tiring, which can help to prevent accidents. They should also use kitchen utensils like wide cutlery and trolleys to transport and eat food with ease, even if they have limited mobility.
Although there are schemes to help you get equipment for your relative, adapting your elderly relative’s home to aid them throughout the rest of their lives can be difficult. However, with these top tips, you will soon be able to create a safe and comfortable space which your loved one can easily access and enjoy.
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