Whether you’re yourself an older adult, or indeed classed on paper as a member of the elderly community, or you’re planning on inviting your elderly parent, close friend, or another relative to stay, it’s important to ensure that your home is safe for those who have difficulty moving around.
With that said, continue reading to discover four ways of improving the accessibility in and around your property for older people.
Upgrade the Level of Security
Unfortunately, both planned and opportunistic burglaries are on the rise, and combined with cybercrime, it is every American citizen’s responsibility to ensure that their property, their belongings and of course, their family, are always safe and secure at home.
Simple yet effective ways of enhancing home security include:
- A large and easy-to-access peephole on the inside of the front door
- A CCTV system around the perimeter
- Installing outdoor lights (ideally those that are motion-sensored)
- Moving the mailbox as close to the front door as possible
In the Bathroom
One of the biggest culprits for trips, falls, and general injuries in the home, especially for older people, is the bathroom, and as such, you should concentrate your attention here.
Invest in grab rails for the side of the bathtub and inside the shower, replace slippery and uneven bathroom tiles with non-slip alternatives (or instead affix a rug to the floor), always keep a bathmat inside the bathtub and ensure that any toiletries and other peripherals are easy to access.
Install Aluminum Railing
Considering the actual doorway to both the front and the back of the property, even if you have just a few steps, these could prove tricky when trying to navigate a walker, a stick, or simply climbing when the steps are slippery with ice and frost.
An affordable, aesthetically pleasing, and simple solution to this issue is to have premium aluminum railings installed, which will enable a safe and secure grip as you and your loved ones ascend and descend the outdoor steps. If your back door is also designed this way, then make sure you order an additional set of railings for here, too.
In the Lounge
Older people who have spent their lives working hard, raising a family, and generally being a productive and agreeable member of society have most certainly earnt the right to relax in front of the television for the day every now and then.
To ensure that your living room is mobility and accessibility-friendly, make sure that the floor is as decluttered as possible and that there are no sharp edges or corners of furniture which can cause an issue.
If your budget allows, investing in a reclining couch or chair can make a real difference to how mobile an elderly person can be, and indeed, how comfortable they will be when watching television.
In addition, wooden floors in the living room are more practical for wheelchair users, but can cause real problems for those using walkers, walking canes, or those who are simply unsteady on their feet.
