While many seniors like the facilities and laid-back atmosphere of assisted living communities, the majority of them prefer to remain in the homes they have always lived in or other familiar areas like their children’s homes. Choosing to age in place might be motivated by a desire to remain in your beloved home, surrounded by friends and family, as well as a desire to avoid the high costs of senior care communities.
While it may seem daunting to think of aging in your own home if it wasn’t built for long-term care, there are a variety of solutions, both temporary and permanent, that can help you stay in your house well past retirement. If you are a senior yourself who wants to stay in your own home or if you have aging parents, who would want to live on their own or with you, read on to know how to make any space senior-friendly. We’ll go over some of the best house modifications, as well as assistive technologies that you may utilize in homes to make them secure and comfortable for seniors.
Revamp The Kitchen
Seniors may discover that their appliances are no longer in the best location for them and that their countertops and cabinetry are too high, especially if they use a wheelchair. To make access from a seated position easier, professional contractors may need to come in and alter the counter height and lower the sink. Furthermore, when microwaves are positioned in microwave stands rather than at the back of the counter or in high microwave cabinets, seniors who are aging may find it easier to use them.
Better Baths
Shower grab bars are commonly thought of as a technique to make bathing safer. Consider installing grab bars near the toilet or in other areas of the room where someone might want assistance to reach. A step-in shower is safer than a tub, but if that isn’t an option, install grab bars to aid entry and exit. At the sink, a single-handle faucet control reduces the risk of scalding, and in the shower, a pressure-balanced control accomplishes the same. For someone with restricted mobility, a hand-held shower head is much easier to use than a fixed shower head.
Anti-Slip Bathrooms
The floors of bathrooms could be exceedingly slippery and dangerous. Anti-slip floors could be installed to reduce the number of mishaps. You can choose from a wide range of slip-resistant flooring options depending on your budget.
One of the best options available in the market when it comes to anti-skid flooring is anti-skid tiling. Contrary to popular belief, tiles prevent slipping and reduce the possibility of accidents caused because of slippery surfaces. You’ll find some amazing anti-skid tiling options at the Orientbell Tiles website. If you’re planning to revamp the flooring into anti-skid flooring, you should definitely check the collection out.
The anti-skid tiles from Orientbell have a specific coating that provides a greater grip and prevents slippage on the tile surface. Furthermore, these non-slip floor tiles come in a range of colors, textures, designs, patterns, and sizes. Non-skid tiles are available in two distinct sizes: 300x300mm and 295x295mm. Some of the popular non-slip tiles available at Orientbell are :
Non-slip tiles can be utilized in any space, but they’re especially useful if you live with the elderly or small children.
Proper Lighting
Every area of your space deserves proper lighting. People generally light their staircases in the fanciest of ways and ignore other areas. Another way of making your space feel more illuminated is by using light-colored and glossy tiles. They reflect light and make your space feel more illuminated and spacious.
Medical Alert Systems
A medical alert system is one of the most useful tools for someone who is aging. These monitor at-risk seniors and contact predetermined contacts and emergency personnel if a fall occurs or the alarm button is pressed. These alarm systems come in the form of smartphone apps as well as wearable devices such as a necklace or bracelet. Wearable styles are typically connected to a home base that can be mounted on a wall or placed on a flat surface. Many alarms include two-way speakers, allowing direct conversation between the wearer and their emergency contact, and some work as a doorbell, sounding an alarm in the home base when the button is pressed.
Assistive Seating
Consider getting out of your beloved recliner with the help of an electric or self-powered raising seat, which gently tilts you forward to assist you in standing. These seats, which are often coated in thick memory foam, can be used on a couch, armchair, or office chair and are quite comfortable to sit in for long periods of time. Having a helping hand can boost your independence while also improving your health. Invest in assistive seating and see the elderly’s life getting easier.
Smart Home Devices
In today’s times, smart home devices are easily available. Devices with voice control and smart lighting have been very popular. Almost all households have such technologies. You can also invest in smart gadgets for personal care that can monitor heart rate, BP, sugar levels and have more such benefits. Such gadgets make life easier and one should definitely invest in devices like these.
While living in an assisted living complex can be both convenient and elegant, not everyone wishes to relocate simply because they are becoming older. More people are aging in place now than ever before, thanks to rising life expectancy and a plethora of favorable aspects foraging in our modern cultures, such as higher education levels, more later-life career options, and a declining poverty rate.
While the number of people in need of care grows every year, long-term care expenses continue to rise, and some places are experiencing a scarcity of care. Build your place the way you want to and it shall stay with you forever. Enjoy your retirement wherever you feel like and your place shall walk with you every step if you take the right steps.
