The Ultimate Guide to Designing a Functional and Safe Home for Seniors
You probably know all about how to make your home perfect for your needs, but what about if you’re helping an older family member improve the functionality of their home? There are things you’ll need to think about beyond aesthetics—safety, accessibility, and comfort are probably all going to be your top priorities here.
Here’s how to make a home more senior-friendly, reducing the risk of accidents and helping your loved one to live comfortably.
Get Rid of Trip Hazards
Seniors are at a greater risk of falls—and they’re more likely to experience a serious injury from a fall compared to a younger person.
So, when you’re redesigning a home for a senior, get rid of any loose rugs and clutter, and replace slippery rugs with non-slip mats. Make sure there are clear paths for walking through every room, and if the home has stairs you’ll want to install a sturdy handrail (if there isn’t one already) or even add a stairlift for easier access to the upper levels.
Improve Lighting
Another simple, affordable way to make a property more senior-friendly is to improve the lighting in every room.
Dim lighting makes it harder for us to see obstacles, and for seniors, this can lead to an increased risk of falls. To reduce this likelihood, install bright energy-efficient bulbs, especially in the property’s main living areas and hallways.
Add Bathroom Safety Upgrades
Bathrooms are one of the most hazardous rooms in the house for seniors, with hard surfaces and floors that often get wet.
While it’s difficult to completely eliminate the risk of falls in the bathroom, you can at least minimize it by adding a few new safety features, including:
- Grab bars near the toilet and shower to provide extra support
- Non-slip mats or textured flooring to prevent slipping
You could also consider replacing the existing bath or shower setup with a walk-in shower with a bench and handheld showerhead, so your loved one can bathe safely and with less physical effort.
Upgrade Kitchen Accessibility
Upgrading a home with senior-friendly features should help your family member to retain their independence, especially when it comes to the kitchen.
When you’re redesigning the kitchen, place kitchen essentials in locations that are easy to reach, and put everyday items in lower cabinets or on open shelves, so your loved one doesn’t have to bend or reach excessively. You can also swap out your faucets for ones with lever-style faucet handles and install easy-grip cabinet pulls to reduce strain on hands and wrists.
Use an Online Pharmacy to Manage Medication
If your family member has a lot of prescriptions, you can help them avoid the overwhelm of keeping all their medications well-stocked by buying from a UK pharmacy online.
Buying their medications online makes it easy for you to order refills and have them delivered to their home. This means your loved one doesn’t have to make frequent trips to the pharmacy, and they’ll have all their medication when they need it.
Takeaway
You don’t have to completely renovate a home to make it senior-friendly. Hopefully, this article has shown you how even small changes can make a big difference to a person’s comfort and independence as they age.
