Setting up your home for seniors means focusing on accessibility, convenience and comfort. If you are a senior converting your home, or if you’re adding a senior member of your family to your home, make simple modifications to ensure it’s easier to move around in and poses fewer safety hazards.
When focusing on accessibility and safety, look for potential fall-risks like stairs, loose rugs and carpet and slippery surfaces. Add grab rails to stairs, showers and toilets. Consider ramps on front or back stairs outside. Either remove throw rugs or secure them to the floor. Make sure carpet corners and seams are tight. Install no-slip mats in tubs, and no-slip strips on stairs.
Make your home more convenient for seniors by making sure their room is on the first floor of the home. Be sure that pantry and dish shelves that they’ll need to access are not too high, especially if they are in a wheelchair. Consider a raised toilet seat, making it easier for them to move from standing to sitting.
In order for your home to be more comfortable for seniors, ensure that every room has good lighting, and maintains a comfortable temperature. Include them in the personalization of common areas of the house so their preferences are prioritized. If you have the space, create a designated place for hobbies and crafts that they can call their own. And, make sure controls for lighting, temperature and entertainment are easy-to-use and explain.