Homeowners are always looking for ways to make their homes more comfortable and appealing. However, living with a senior changes things. Homeowners would then have to make changes to their homes to make sure that seniors can navigate their homes with ease. After all, seniors are not as capable of moving around on their own as they used to be.
There are a lot of simple things homeowners can do to make their homes more accommodating for seniors. However, homeowners would really have to invest time, money, and effort to make these changes. One example is by installing a small and simple home elevator. This addition to one’s home will make it easier for seniors to move up and down the house.
Making Accommodations for Seniors
Making home improvements for seniors can be a challenge. It is important to consider the needs of aging homeowners while making changes that will help them live with more comfort and ease. Many older adults have trouble getting around their homes and need things to be closer or easier to reach than they were when they moved in.
Others are having difficulty seeing due to age-related vision loss, which makes it hard for them to read the small print on medicine bottles or see where the light switches are located. The simple home improvement ideas below will help make life at home more comfortable for seniors:
-
Installing grab bars
Grab bars are a fixture in most bathrooms, but homeowners should consider installing them elsewhere to provide support when standing up from a seated position. They are also handy for getting into the tub or shower and can be an invaluable tool if you have someone who falls often.
Grab bars help seniors get in and out of the bathtub, making it easier to take a relaxing soak. In addition to placement by the tub or shower, homeowners should install grab bars next to toilets for support when getting up from a seated position on a toilet seat.
-
Putting up railings on stairs
Railings on staircases are for more than just preventing homeowners from falling. Seniors often have trouble seeing where they are going on stairs, and railings can also help them to feel secure as they climb or descend the steps.
Railings on staircases not only prevent falls but also improve visibility and provide a feeling of security when climbing up or down the stairs. Installing them will help seniors feel more confident when using the stairs in their homes.
-
Installing ramps
Ramps are another way homeowners can make their homes more accessible for seniors. They are also useful when homeowners must carry groceries up the stairs, making it easier to avoid straining the back or putting down items that might get dropped and damaged on the trip upstairs.
Ramps are especially important for seniors who are wheelchair-bound. After all, a wheelchair-bound senior is not going to be able to climb stairs easily, if at all. Therefore, ramps should be installed if homeowners want to make their homes more senior-friendly.
However, homeowners need to consider the height of ramps that are going to be installed in their homes. Seniors are likely going to be using these ramps every day. Therefore, they should not feel overwhelmed or daunted by the ramp’s angle of ascent and descent.
-
Making changes to the home’s entryway
One way homeowners can make their homes more accommodating for seniors is by making some changes to the home’s entryway. One change that should be made is installing a threshold ramp. This will allow seniors easier access to and from the home.
Another change homeowners should make is making sure that the doorways in their homes are at least 32 inches wide. This will allow seniors better access when they want to move about freely through different rooms of their house.
-
Adding more lights
More lights will help seniors navigate their houses more easily and safely. Installing motion-sensor lights in the dark areas of homeowners’ homes will help them see where they are going at night. They can also install a light switch near doorways to guide themselves when they go from one room to another.
-
Investing in automated home systems
Automated home systems can be highly beneficial for seniors. This is because seniors will not have to exert too much effort in operating things at home. For example, homeowners can install an automated garage door opener that will allow them to enter their garages with the help of a remote control without having to open it manually.
Homeowners need to assess seniors’ needs first before making any changes to their homes. When making changes to your home, it is important to keep in mind that some modifications are specifically designed to help seniors live safely and comfortably within their own homes.
