Aging in Place: Renovation Tips to Make the Home More Accessible for Seniors

Old age can take away our independence and our ability to go about our daily lives on our own. Limited mobility can make it difficult for seniors to move around in their own home without help. Thankfully, there are a few simple renovations that you can undertake to make your home more accessible for the elderly.

Benefits to the elderly

Being able to move around independently will help improve self-confidence and well-being in seniors. It can also help you save money on hiring professional carers. To make this possible, all it takes are a few simple renovations aimed at making your home safer and more accessible.

Home modification designs and tips

One thing to keep in mind when redesigning your home to accommodate family in their advanced age, is to make moving from one part of the house to the other easier. This alone will reduce a senior’s dependence on other individuals greatly and provide them the freedom to move between rooms. Another benefit of home renovations is making your home a safer place for the seniors. Unfortunately, all it takes is one bad fall for an elderly person to lose faith in his/her ability to live independently. But a home renovation can take into account all the potential risks and hazards and instill confidence in a more independent living.

Home modifications could either be major (such as widening door frames or building a new bathroom) or minor (installing a grab rail in a bathroom). Regardless, any home modification should be based on the elderly’s needs. Here are some tips on how you can renovate your home to make it more accessible for seniors.

Bathroom Modifications

The journey to the bathroom can often be a challenging task for the elderly and the presence of water adds the risk of slip accidents. Below are the things you can do to minimise the risks associated with bathrooms:

Install bathroom seats and platforms to add comfort and ease to the elderly.

Install handrails and grab rails in the bathroom, especially near the shower and bath along with the path to the sink.

Install handheld showers because they can be brought down and used while sitting.

Add non-slip paint or covering on the bathroom floor to prevent accidents. A non-slip bathroom mat may also do.

 

Bedroom Renovations

 The bedroom is where seniors will most probably spend most of their time at home. Making it accessible and easier to move around is a must to help the elderly live independently.

Add a modulated bed that comes with motorised adjustments as well as bed rails.

Adjust the power sources to spots where it’s easier for the elderly to reach them.

By installing glowing handrails from the bedroom to the bathroom, you’ll make night-time toilet visits safer and easier.

A walk-in wardrobe with plenty of space for the wheelchair to maneuver would be an ideal addition to the bedroom.

Installing lower shelves will make it easier for the elderly to reach into items.

 

Doorways, Hallways, & Passageways

 The most important thing to know about doorways, hallways, and passageways for the elderly is that they need to provide a lot of space. This is to allow access for wheelchairs and the extra space helps the resident avoid colliding into furniture and other items.

Promote ease of passage by opening up and widening doorways, hallways, and passageways.

Sliding doors are easier to open and close making them more suitable for the elderly.

If traditional doors cannot be avoided, then replace the knobs with levers, which require less force to operate.

Install ramps for wheelchairs.

Night lights will make it easier for the elderly to move in the dark, preferably they turn on when detecting movement.

Guardrails and handrails help for easier movement.

 

Kitchen Modifications

Convenience should be the most important factor when modifying a kitchen, especially since this is where the elderly will often socialise while making meals.

 

Install soft-close cabinets and doors to make it easier and tidier for people with limited mobility.

Install lowered kitchen benches. They will help wheelchair-bound people reach the benches much easier.

In the pantry, frequently used items must always be placed where the elderly would find it easiest to get them.

 

Staircases & Steps

 It’s less practical for the elderly to use steps but if you have a multi-story home, then making the necessary adjustments may just make their lives much easier.

 

Install a chair lift. This would help the elderly reach higher areas of the house. Chair lifts can either come in a standard seat that simply takes a person up or down or could even come with wide space to accommodate wheelchairs.

If the house has too many floors, then an elevator would be the most ideal choice if you have the budget.

If the elderly person doesn’t find it too difficult to move, then installing guard rails on the staircase would be of help.

Relocating the elderly’s bedroom and living areas to the lower floors would greatly improve his/her quality of living.

 

Home Accessibility Solutions with Bendtech™

Mobility issues come with aging and they can be really hard to deal with. But with a few renovations, you can help your seniors make them more manageable by making your home more accessible. So, start planning your home renovations today and for all the mobility and accessibility solutions you need, you can contact Bendtech™.

We manufacture a wide range of helpful products for the disabled and elderly like handrails, grab rails, shower seats, hand-held showers, and threshold ramps. With our high-quality and competitively-priced accessibility solutions, you can make life better for your seniors and disabled loved ones.

Contact Bendtech today for deliveries or enquirers about our products.