Home Remodeling for Aging in Place: Designing a Safe and Comfortable Home
As people age, their needs change, and this includes their living conditions. Aging in place refers to remaining in one’s home as one gets older, rather than moving to assisted living or nursing homes. With the proper home remodeling, seniors can live in safety and comfort in their own homes. Here are some tips for designing a safe and comfortable home for aging in place.
1. Eliminate trip hazards: Falls are one of the most common causes of injuries to seniors. Trip hazards such as loose rugs, cluttered walkways, or uneven flooring can cause falls. Remove any tripping hazards and ensure the floors are level, slip-resistant, and free of obstacles.
2. Install grab bars: Installing grab bars in the bathroom, shower, and other areas around the home can help prevent falls. Grab bars provide necessary support for seniors to navigate their surroundings safely. They should be installed by a professional to ensure they are secured properly.
3. Improve lighting: As people age, their eyesight may weaken, making it more difficult to navigate dimly lit space. Installing brighter light bulbs, motion-activated lights, and night lights can improve the visibility around the home, preventing seniors from falling or running into objects.
4. Increase accessibility: As seniors’ mobility decreases, steps or narrow doorways can become increasing barriers to navigating their home. Installing ramped entrances, widening doors, or lowering countertops can make the home more accessible and comfortable.
5. Install non-slip flooring: Slippery floors, particularly in the bathroom or kitchen, can lead to falls. Installing non-slip floors such as textured tiles, vinyl flooring or cork can reduce the risk of slips and falls
6. Use lever handles and other accessibility features: Traditional doorknobs, faucets and other manual devices can prove difficult to operate for seniors with arthritis or reduced mobility. Replace necessary devices with lever handles, touchless faucets and other accessibility features fo seamless and safe activities of daily leaving .
7. Keep the Kitchen Accessible: Take measures to lower countertops, choosing accessible ovens and installing pull-out pantries to ensure that seniors can continue to cook and eat in their own homes.
The most brilliant solution is an occupational therapist to help you evaluate your needs and guide with recommendations on best design solutions for your home remodeling project.
Designing a safe, comfortable home for aging in place is a great investment. These tips can prevent accidents, promote overall health and wellbeing, and extend the time seniors can live in their own homes.