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Many seniors are making the life decision that they would much rather stay at the home they have lived in for years versus moving to a retirement village or nursing home. While every senior is facing a different set of challenges than their peers, there are common things that can be installed or altered in their homes to make sure they can still live in their own home safely. Here are just a few of them.
Check Out the Flooring
Tripping is a major hazard for those who are of advanced age. Pile carpeting, loose rugs, or even tile can be very dangerous and may cause slips. Rugs that have patterns may also confuse those who have poor eyesight. Make sure any carpeting is short, not shag, and that rugs are of the non-slip variety with solid patterns. Review the slip rating of any hardwood or laminate flooring before it is installed in the home.
Home Lifts
There comes a time in life when walking up and down the stairs is not only difficult but dangerous as well. When mobility becomes an issue, consider having home lifts experts install a lift so that the senior in your life can still enjoy the full space of their home without having to worry about the dangers of stairs. This is especially important if the bedrooms or bathrooms are upstairs.
Proper Lighting
All rooms in the house should have sufficient lighting so that the senior can see everything around them. There should be no blind spots anywhere and the lighting should be easy to turn on and off. In addition to the inside of the home, the areas outside of the home that is most traversed should be well-lit as well.
Automation
If it can be afforded, as many items in the home should be automated. While high-tech devices and senior citizens are not generally thought of in the same space, automated home devices and appliances can definitely make a senior’s life easier. They can verbally turn lights on and off, cooking appliances can be programmed to shut off automatically, and a wide variety of other convenience and safety measures. If the senior has family members that can program the devices and instruct them on how to use them, this should be done. If not, there are companies who provide such services.
Handrails and Bars
A senior can lose their balance no matter where they are at, but the places in the home where occurrences such as this are the most common are the bathroom and the bedroom. By installing handrails in these rooms, and any other rooms that may present a challenge, you are giving them that extra bit of help that they may need to successfully age in place.
Security Systems
To avoid any contact with dangerous intruders or even to protect them from themselves, a security system that can monitor both outside the home as well as inside the home is highly recommended. The ability to communicate with the resident is also an added bonus.
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