As people age, their needs may change. So, whether they’re moving in or simply visiting, you need to ensure that your home is senior-friendly. There are certain steps you can take to reduce the risk of injuries and keep your loved one healthy and happy.
Here are a few ideas to get started!
Replace Dangerous Flooring
Prevention of falling is a great step in improving your home for a senior family member. When a senior member has balance issues or drags their feet, your high pile carpet, tile floor, or hardwood floor might be their greatest risk. Therefore, you need to replace your high-profile carpet with a low-profile one or laminate your flooring to ensure that all high traffic areas are safer.
Add a Shower Bench
A shower bench in the bathroom reduces the risks of slipping and gives your senior family the freedom to shower alone or with limited assistance. However, make sure that the shower bench is strong enough to accommodate their weight.
Light Up the Stairs Properly
Senior members of the family shouldn’t use stairs, but if they have to, they should be properly lit to ensure their treks up and down are safe. The lighting can be installed on the sides of (or possibly under) the stairs.
Make Climbing Stairs Easy
Adding some extra grip on your stairs (inside and outside your home) is one of the ways you can reduce stair-related falls. You can add grip tape to non-carpeted stairs or add non-slip tread mats that work well on carpeted and non-carpeted surfaces.
Plug in a Security System
Most advanced security systems will allow you to check up on your family remotely and see how your senior relative is fairing all day long. You can also enable program alerts to let you know when anyone leaves the house or your yard. This comes in handy, especially if they suffer from memory loss.
Make your Home Fit for a Senior Member!
Keeping your home safer for senior family members is essential to ensure their retirement years are healthy and enjoyable. Get in touch with us today and learn more about how to ensure your home is fit for a senior member.
