Many adult children decide to undertake the responsibility of their senior parents. Maybe you already have a senior resident in your home, your parents have asked you to take them in, or you are just planning for the future. Whatever your particular case may be, help ease the stress of this situation by preparing your home for a senior resident.
Put the Bedroom on the Main Floor
Many elderly people have trouble climbing stairs and installing a chair lift on the stair rail is expensive. A cheaper alternative if you’re moving in an elderly parent is to move their bedroom to the main floor.
If you are building your forever home and don’t want to end up in a nursing home or other assisted living facility, consider putting in an elevator, especially if you don’t want the master bedroom on the bottom level of your house.
Ensure Moderate Temperatures at All Times
Heat indexes in some locations during the summer easily surpass 100 degrees on a daily basis and air conditioners particularly struggle to keep up in humid climates. Be sure to buy an AC unit that keeps up during even the hottest summer months. Excessive heat can lead to both heat stroke and dehydration in older individuals, both of which are dangerous conditions. Make sure you have a generator to back up your HVAC if the power goes out.
Mitigate Risks of Slips and Trips
One of the simplest things you can do to make your home safer and more comfortable for seniors is to reduce the likelihood that they will slip and fall. To reduce the risk of slipping, remove area rugs or place non-skid mats under the area rugs. To reduce the risk of tripping, ensure a smooth driveway, build a ramp leading up to your front door, and make sure interior stairs are well-lit. Try to have handrails on both sides of the stairs, if possible.
Ensure Bathroom Safety
After you have mitigated the risk of slips and trips, try to make the bathroom as safe as possible. While many of us grew up in homes with handrails for the bathtub, provide assistance around the toilet. This is another common area in which seniors can fall. Be sure the guard rails are at least one-and-a-half inches around to account for failing grip.
Make the Kitchen Comfortable
Be sure you have a fully functional kitchen that is easy for your aging parents to use. If your budget will allow it, try installing appliances with large, easy-to-read displays, ergonomic knobs, and simple buttons. Also, consider glass cabinets so frequently used items can be found effortlessly, easy-to-open drawers, and ergonomic workstations for chopping vegetables, cutting meat and prepping food.
Whether you are taking in your elderly parent for the foreseeable future, or just offering them a place to stay on vacation, be sure your home is comfortable and safe for your guests. Although there are many ways you can prepare, the above tips will help make this new living arrangement go smoothly.
