6 Ways to Make a Home Comfortable for Seniors

If your aging parents live independently, or you are hosting an older person in your home, their comfort and safety should be prioritized. Seniors are understandably weak and fragile, and those simple design features of your home that look normal to you may prove incredibly difficult for them to navigate. Luckily, you don't have to buy another home just to accommodate your aging loved one; you can modify specific parts of your current home and make it elderly-friendly. 

1. Declutter pathways

Items lying on the floor can be trip-and-fall hazards for anyone, but they are a bigger risk for the elderly. Ensure that items such as toys, laundry containers, shoes, furniture, potted plants, and cleaning equipment are kept away from pathways and poorly-lit places.

2. Hire a caregiver

This is not exactly a home modification tip, but its significance in making a home elderly-friendly earns it a place here. Professional caregivers are charged with a number of things, including the safety and comfort of their clients. In the presence of a caregiver, your aging parents may not need to move around the house too often, and if they do, someone will be there to support them. Ensure you procure your in-home care services from a reputable company such as Husky Senior Care for maximum safety and reliability.

When considering the long-term needs of your elderly loved ones, it's crucial to start thinking about transitioning to assisted living. This transition can provide a more comprehensive level of care and ensure their well-being in a dedicated environment. Luckily, with several reputable senior care services in Marietta, creating a comfortable and safe home for seniors becomes a more achievable goal. Just be sure to research and take tours of various communities in the area before making a decision.

3. Increase the bathroom's accessibility

The bathroom might be designed with your safety in mind, but it's a pretty dangerous room for the elderly. When modifying it, ensure the shower is accessible without having to step over the side of the bathtub. There should also be a strong grab bar to help your senior get up from the toilet. Remember, the bathroom is where most slip-and-fall accidents occur, so consider changing the flooring to something less slippery.

4. Improve lighting

All pathways need to be well-lit and free of dark patches to make navigation in the house easy. When there is adequate lighting in a room and along the pathways to different rooms, especially the bathroom, you can walk with increased confidence, and hazards are easier to perceive.

In addition to the rooms, consider adding lights in outdoor spaces such as the driveway and garage, as well as entryways and hallways.

5. Install safety devices

Any home should have carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, but the elderly dwellers need more than that. Personal fall detection technology, such as life alert, may be needed for wheelchair users and those who are extremely weak. If you have an alarm system, install a switch in your loved one's room and in a few other easily accessible points.

6. Widen your doorways

If an older adult uses a wheelchair or walker, you don't have a choice but to modify your home with these aids in mind. Start by widening your doorways and jettisoning any unnecessary staircases. This may require seeking an expert's services, but it's a necessary step if you want to protect your senior relative from injuries and the need to overexert themselves just to move in and out of the home.

Regardless of cost and intricacy, home modification is necessary if you want to bolster your aging relative's comfort. The above tips provide an excellent place to start if you want to tackle the basics first.