As parents age, it becomes more difficult for them to live independently. For some, this means moving into an assisted living facility. However, others may choose to move in with their children.
If you have an elderly parent who wants to stay with you, there are some changes that you need to make to your home. Here are 4.
Flooring
Accidental slips and falls are common among the elderly. To prevent these, you need to make sure that your flooring is slip-resistant, and also not overly hard.
Carpeting is a good option because it’s soft and not slippery. If you have hardwood floors, you can also invest in some throw rugs. Just make sure that they’re secured so that they don’t slide around.
Alternatively, you can go all out and change your flooring material entirely. For example, if you have ceramic or porcelain tile floors, you could change them to something softer, like vinyl. In this case, be sure to hire qualified hacking services and experienced contractors to make sure the job is done well.
Doorways and Hallways
The sad truth is that mobility decreases with age. To make your home more accommodating for the wheelchairs and walkers that your parent may need, you need to widen doorways and hallways.
In general, doorways should be at least 32 inches wide. If you have double doors, they should each be at least 24 inches wide. As for hallways, they should be at least 36 inches wide.
Keep in mind that you may also need to replace your doors entirely. Standard doors have a doorknob in the middle, which can be difficult for someone with arthritis to grip. Lever handles are a much better option.
Lighting
Poor eyesight is another common issue among the elderly. To make your home safer for them, you need to install additional lighting.
For example, you should have a light installed in each room, even if there’s already a ceiling light. These can be floor lamps or table lamps. Make sure that they’re placed in strategic locations so that your parent can easily reach them.
It’s also a good idea to install motion sensor lights outside. This way, they won’t have to fumble for a light switch when they’re coming home at night.
Bathrooms
Bathrooms can be very dangerous for the elderly. To make them safer, you need to make a few modifications.
The most important is installing grab bars in the shower.
Then, you should also consider getting a raised toilet seat. This will make it easier for your parent to use the toilet.
These are 4 top modifications you need to make if you’re housing an elderly parent. So make sure your flooring is slip-resistant, widen doorways and hallways, install extra lighting and make bathroom modifications to make life safer and easier for elderly parents.