7 Home Improvements That Can Help Your Aging Parents
As parents age, their bodies wear out and they become vulnerable to chronic illnesses and mobility problems. They require special care and attention and you have to either move them to a nursing home or revamp their home to be elderly-friendly. Nursing homes are expensive and often associated with depression, isolation, and social stigma. Therefore, you have one option; to come up with home improvements that can help your elderly parents preserve their autonomy and improve the quality of their lives.
Below are seven home improvements to help your aging parents.
1. Widen Doorways and Hallways
If your parents use mobility aids such as wheelchairs and walkers, you may consider widening doorways and hallways to allow them easy movement around the house. Uplifting Mobility has numerous mobility aids to help your aging parents stay active and mobile. The doorways should be approximately 32 inches wide while hallways should be at least 42 inches wide. Where possible, eliminate doorway thresholds because they may be tripping hazards. Additionally, remember to remodel your entryway to cater for all forms of walking aids.
2. Single Level Living
Stairs do not go well with your aging parents. You do not want mom and dad to climb up and down all the time when the bedroom is upstairs and the bathroom is on the ground floor. If possible, it is advisable to create living spaces for your aging parents on a single level. The bedroom and bathroom should be on the ground floor to save them the hassle of going up and down the stairs. If this is not possible, you can consider a stair lift to ease movement.
3. Light Up
You can light up your home to make it safer and more comfortable for your aging parents. You can add nightlights to hallways, bathroom, and bedroom to brighten the rooms and enhance safety. In a poorly lit room, your aged parents risk tripping into something and injuring themselves. You can add task lighting in areas that your parents require additional lighting such as the reading area and the kitchen.
4. Safe Showering
Imagine your aged parents taking a shower while standing. It can be extremely tiring. You can install a shower seat to save them the energy lost standing and improve their bathroom experience. You can opt for a foldable shower seat that is stored away when not in use. Installing grab bars near the toilet and shower can improve the bathroom life for the elderly especially if they have difficulty sitting down and standing up.
5. Easy Openings
Traditional door knobs are hard to operate for older parents especially those suffering from hand ailments such as hand arthritis. They struggle to open the door because they are unsure of the direction to swirl the doorknob. You can replace door knobs with lever handles that are easy to install and operate. Sliding glass doors, like doorknobs are hard to operate for an elderly parent because of their weight. You can replace sliding glass doors with their newer models that are lighter and easier to operate.
6. Kitchen Remodeling
Just because your parents are elderly does not meet they will not get into the kitchen. Your dad may want to get a glass of water when you are away and your mom may want to prepare dinner occasionally. Therefore, it is fundamental to remodel your kitchen to meet the needs of your aging parents. Consider having lower kitchen countertops that are reachable on a wheelchair or when seated. Ensure that the kitchen has ample space to accommodate a walker or wheelchair. Adjust the height of appliances such as microwaves and dishwashers so that they are elderly accessible. Additionally, do not forget to ensure that your kitchen storage areas are accessible.
7. Be Rug-smart
Rugs are pretty and make a home warmer and more comfortable. However, rugs cause tripping for family members and hinder smooth wheelchair movement. Therefore, you have to be rug smart and get rid of rugs in high traffic places such as hallways to guarantee every family member’s safety. Instead of rugs, you can invest in non-slip flooring materials that are safe for you and your elderly parents.
When dealing with aging parents, you have limited options. You can either move them to a nursing home or keep them at home. When you opt to keep them at home, you have to unleash home improvements to make the house more comfortable and accommodating for them. Use these home improvement tips to help your aging parents and guarantee their autonomy and quality of life.
