There are countless care homes that make life easier for those reaching older age, but many people prefer to stay in the home they love with their familiar neighbourhoods. The good thing for those people is that there are many ways to make their home a bit friendlier to the aging process. Here are the top home modifications to make your home as comfortable as ever in your older age.
Ramps
Stairs can be a bit of a challenge as they require a particular steadiness as a result of a good vestibular system. Unfortunately, this system is composed of semi-circular canals which have little hairs in them. Just like the hairs that receive sound in your ears, these also fade with age, making balancing a bit more difficult. Ramps can help with that and consequently reduce the risk of a fall. They are especially useful for those with wheelchairs and those with old houses that have loads of small steps in between rooms. You can get non-permanent ramps that you can install by yourself really easily too, so it’s a great easy fix if you’re finding stairs tricky.
Special Bathtubs or Showers
The bathroom is something that involves a surprising amount of agility — especially when you’re balancing on a wet floor in the shower or climbing in and out of the bath. Luckily you can get walk-in bathtubs and showers that allow you to bathe as well as you always have done, without the excessive movements involved. If you don’t want to replace your whole bath — which can come with a steep price — you can install safety strips or a safety bar. These are simple modifications that can help you reduce your risk of slipping or falling when you’re bathing. You can also get a bathtub transfer bench, which allow you to sit in the tub getting in one leg at a time. Bathtub or shower chairs serve that purpose, too.
Stairlifts
Are stairlifts right for you? Stairlifts are designed for each individual staircase and can be the perfect addition to houses with steep and unaccommodating steps. There are different types of stairlifts, but many prefer curved stairlifts as they allow you to more easily get on, and off, from the ground floor. There’s more than one benefit of curved stairlifts, and modern curved stairlifts use what’s called a twin rail system, which gives a smoother ride.
Better Flooring
It sounds simple, but by making sure your flooring is up to scratch can make your home much more accommodating and reduce the risk of falls. That includes getting rid of old, shaggy carpets and replacing them with ones that have a shorter nap so you are less likely to fall. Unless you are wheelchair-bound, carpets are preferable to hardwood, tile or vinyl floors as they can be a little slippery, though wheelchairs function much better on smooth floors. If you have rugs, be sure to securely tape them down so you don’t have any risk of tripping over them. Taking these steps will not only improve the quality of your life, but also give your loved ones peace of mind about you living at home in your older age.
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