If your parent is becoming increasingly fragile and/or is suffering from a medical condition, you might be concerned for their health and well-being within their home. If so, you could improve their health and maintain their safety by making modifications to their home and lifestyle.
By doing so, your loved one can retain a greater level of independence, and you won’t need to move them into a nursing home or assisted-living facility. Find out how to create a comfortable home for your elderly parents.
Repair their property’s exterior
Your parents’ garden could be filled with many safety hazards. It is important to review their exterior to prevent potential dangers when your parents leave and enter their home.
For example, you should repair cracked or uneven paving, and you could install a ramp to accommodate wheelchairs, mobility scooters or walking aids.
Illuminate their home
Seniors can experience decreased vision as they grow older, which is why you should increase lighting both inside and outside of the home.
For example, add extra lamps to their bedside tables, so they can easily see in the dark, and consider options that turn on and off at a touch of a finger. You can also increase their property’s security by installing motion sensor lights on front and back door locks, as well as on ramps and stairs.
Create a safe, accessible bathroom
Unfortunately, many elderly people commonly experience slips and falls in the bathroom. If you’re concerned about your parent stepping into the bath or shower, you should aim to create a safe, accessible bathroom to ensure their safety when bathing.
For example, you could:
- Add slip-prevention flooring (non-skid bath mats, non-slip strips, and non-slip rug tape)
- Install grab bars in the shower, bathtub and next to the toilet
- Add a folded seat or bench into the shower or bath
Secure in-home care
Of course, your ageing loved one might require much more than grab rails, ramps and motion sensor lighting.
If you want to help them remain within their home without sacrificing on their quality of life, you can take your pick from affordable in-home care services to support senior living, as a caregiver can help with meal preparation, light housework and laundry. Visit www.inhomecare.com to learn more.
Make simple changes to their interior
There are, however, small changes you can instantly make to their home to create a safe space for your elderly parents, which will not cost a substantial amount of money. For example, you could:
- Apply non-slip wax to their flooring
- Remove throw rugs
- Keep steps clear
- Clear clutter and electrical cords
- Add a raised toilet seat
- Switch door knobs for lever handles
- Remove wheels from chairs
Prevent scalding
As older adults can develop thinner skin, they’re more susceptible to severe scalding burns.
Protect them when using water by installing anti-scalding devices onto their sink, shower and bath which can recognise when the water becomes too hot and will stop the flow.
Alternatively, you could adjust their boiler’s thermostat to ensure it remains at or below 120º.
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