Spending time with your family can lead to cherished memories, and your home is a perfect place to create these memories. However, when having your elderly relatives over, you want your house to be accessible to them.
Here are some suggestions on how to make your home safer for your elderly family members.
Health Concerns Among the Elderly
One of the top safety concerns for elderly adults is their risk of falling. As they get older, certain health conditions can cause leg weakness, mobility problems, or balance issues.
Also, many elderly adults tend to take medication, which could have side effects that impact their mobility. As people age, their vision decreases, leading to a higher risk of falling.
To help with these concerns, be sure your elderly family members get an annual checkup and do physical exercises to improve their strength and balance. You can also help them by having your home protected from potential safety risks.
Ways to Increase the Safety of Your Home
To keep your elderly relatives safe when visiting your home, consider trying the methods below.
1. Install Residential Elevators
With many elderly adults having limited mobility, having an elevator in your home makes it easier for them to move between floors without much strain. This is especially important if you have elderly family staying overnight and climbing stairs to reach their bedroom. The stairs can also increase their fall risk.
2. Secure Your Rugs
Loose flooring, such as rugs, can be a tripping hazard for elderly adults, especially those with balance issues. Be sure to secure them with a non-slip pad or grip before family members come over to visit.
Also, you want to pick up any loose objects, like toys, to reduce the risk of a fall injury. Be sure to tuck away any cables or electronic cords used to power your devices.
3. Add Additions to Your Bathroom
When your elderly relatives come to stay for an extended time, they will need to use one of your bathrooms. Consider adding a shower bench inside the shower to make it more accessible for them. You could also upgrade to a walk-in tub.
Having these features in place reduces their risk of them slipping and gives them a greater sense of independence.
4. Light Up the Stairs
Ideally, you want to limit the number of stairs your family has to climb up, but sometimes this isn’t an option. To make the stairs safer for them, try adding a lighted handrail or individual lights on each step. This will be especially helpful in darker areas or for those with vision impairments.
5. Install Handlebars and Grab Rails
This is an easy way to ensure your elderly family members can move around the house safely. Consider installing them in staircases, bathrooms, and bedrooms. Handlebars reduce their chance of falling by stabilizing their movements.
6. Take Advantage of Home Automation
Home automation features, such as smart thermostats, adjust to your preferences and allow more personalized control. You can control many of these devices right from your cell phone. Being able to manage your home devices more efficiently will allow you to spend more time with the ones you love and keep an eye on them.
7. Keep Emergency Numbers Handy
When your loved ones come to visit, it’s the perfect time to enjoy each others’ company. However, you want to prepare in case of an emergency. Having emergency numbers handy, such as 911 or their health care provider, is a good idea. Place the numbers beside the phone and in a large enough font that they can be read easily.
Enjoy Time With Your Loved Ones
Making time for family can increase your overall happiness, and your house is a convenient gathering location! Just remember to keep it safe for your elderly relatives to visit. The risk of falling is one of the most common concerns for seniors.
So, when adding safety features to your home, consider including residential elevators, a shower bench, handrails, and automated devices. By providing a more secure home for your elderly relatives, you can more fully enjoy your time with them and have better peace of mind.
