Converting a House into a Senior Friendly Home

 

When remodeling a house to make it more senior-friendly, there are several improvements to remember. From senior-friendly bathroom fixtures to kitchen conveniences, you want to get it perfect. Use these innovative ideas to plan your or a loved one’s home for aging in place.

 

Enter a Brave New World.

In an ideal world, a senior will live in a single-story house with a no-rise entrance or a mansion with a working elevator. most of us do not live in the ideal world. Follow the guidelines below to make your home as safe and comfortable as possible.

 

Some of the entrances to homes have broken sidewalks and uneven surfaces. This leads to hazard zones. Repave and rebuild level, smooth surfaces to make movement simpler.

 

• Install non-slip flooring in the home’s entryway.
• To enhance footing outside the building, apply non-slip strips or scuff the surface.
• Repair some uneven or eroded parts of the walkway leading to the building.
• Build a no-rise entrance with ramps if possible.
• If you do have stairs, make sure they have railings on both sides. To support aging grips, they should be at least one-and-a-half inches in diameter.
• Use contrast strips on the top and bottom stairs to improve stair visibility. The color distinction between stair treads and risers

 

Convert Entryways Into Safe Zones For Seniors

• Trying to multitask is a formula for disaster. Make space inside and outside your home for your bundles and parcels. When coming and going, use the surface to keep your hands free and your balance up.
• Make sure the house has at least one covered entryway. You should have at least one place that is totally shielded from the elements.

 

It makes a difference to get a room with a view. 

• Better lighting would protect your loved one.
• Increase the lighting in all entryways.
• Install motion-sensor lighting on ramps and stairs. In addition, place lighting near the front and back door locks.

 

Design a Kitchen to Be Admired

Aging mothers (and fathers) deserve to have a working kitchen that they will appreciate. Your purpose is to maximize accessibility & functionality while limiting the need for your senior family to bend and crouch. It’s an added benefit if you can change the room’s appearance.

 

As we age, our motor skills decline. So let the equipment work for her, not the other way around

• Turn to kitchen appliances with basic push-button interfaces and easy-to-read buttons.
• Convert to a wall oven or a side swing. This would make it easier for seniors to enter the oven and eliminate the need for them to carry heavy objects over the hot door.
• Microwave drawers are an excellent addition to an aging-in-place household. They improve accessibility and maximize countertop space.

 

Make Sure Items in the Pantry Are Easily Accessible.

• Make the switch to open shelving for easier access to commonly used objects.
• Switch to glass cabinet doors so your senior loved one can easily recognize objects.
• Increase accessibility by using Lazy Susans and roll-out trays.

 

Make Sinks Convenient To Use 

• Install pressure-balanced valves to ensure the water remains at a specific temperature independent of pressure changes.
• Adjust the hot water heater temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Every uncovered hot water pipe should be insulated.
• Convert your kitchen faucet to a single lever and add pedal-controlled faucets for better use.

 

Create An Accessible & Safe Bathroom

Bathrooms that are both secure and easily available should not appear by chance. To keep your senior loved one independent and safe at home, you’ll need to take care of the bathroom.

 

There are numerous trips and falls in and around the bathroom and shower area.

• Install slip-resistant flooring in the bathroom and shower area. Add nonslip bath mats, non-slip strips in the bathtub and shower, and durable secure bath mats with non-slip rug tape are all effective.
• Be cautious; many inexpensive bath mats are not non-slip and increase the risk of falling. Quality, long-lasting items can be found at the nearest hardware store.

 

Improve your loved one’s grip. Grab bars in the shower, tub, and next to the toilet to help avoid slips.

• Assess them to ensure that they are safely fastened to the wall.
• Instead of diagonal bars, use U-shaped, vertical, or angle bars. Hand slippage is caused by diagonal bars, which can raise the chance of a fall.
• Add back bracing to the walls where grab bars are used. Assess that you can support 250-300 pounds.

 

Make bath time a peaceful and quiet time. Sitting in the bath can be difficult for seniors, and standing in a slippery tub is dangerous.

• In the bathroom, install a fold-down seat or chair. Some have padded backs for added comfort. Others may have a frame that stretches beyond the pool to allow for easy bath entry/exit.
• Install hand-held shower heads with adjustable heights and a six-foot hose to direct the water where it is most desired.
• Showers for younger eyes were built by home builders. Provide additional light in the shower stall for the senior user.

 

If you follow these basic tips, redesigning homes for seniors and the aging in place experience will be a piece of cake. With less worry and more protection, you can make their everyday life easier.