If your senior parents want to remain in their home as they age, there are many modifications that can be done to make sure that the house is safe for them as their needs change. Some modifications need to be done by a contractor or home improvement professional but there are lots of smaller modifications that you can do yourself or with friends. Some of them can be done in just a weekend but will greatly increase your loved one’s safety in their home. The best DIY modifications to make for senior parents aging at home include:
Seniors are extremely sensitive to temperatures, and they often get very cold just out of the shower. If they require help from an elder care provider to shower or bathe and get dressed they could be standing or sitting wet and cold in the bathroom for a long time while the elder care provider makes sure they are cared for. Putting a heat lamp in the bathroom will allow them to keep warm and toasty during and after their bath or shower and while they are getting dressed.
Installing well-placed grab bars is essential for senior safety at home. It should go without saying that there should be grab bars by the shower or tub and by the toilet. But you should also put grab bars by their bed it possible to help them get up from bed. You can put more grab bars by the sofa or their favorite chair in case they need a little help getting up after sitting for a long time. And you should put grab bars by the doorways in case they need to steady themselves coming in or going out of the house. You can consult your senior loved one’s elder care provider to ask if there are other areas in the house where your parents might need a grab bar.
The flooring in the house should be uniform. Area rugs are a huge tripping hazard for seniors so get rid of them. If your parents like their existing hard floors you should consider gel mats for areas like in front of the sink or in the bathroom that will cushion their feet. If the floors aren’t great consider installing wall to wall carpet for your parents. Wall to wall carpet provides cushion for walking on and it’s softer to land on if they do fall.
As your parents get older gripping things and pulling things will get more difficult. Replace doorknobs that are hard to turn with easy grip knobs designed for seniors. Replace cabinet hardware and drawer pulls with simple pulls that are easy for seniors for grab. And replace the faucets with no touch faucets that will turn on automatically when your senior loved one waves a hand under the faucet. As a bonus those touchless faucets turn off automatically as well so you won’t have to worry that your senior loved one will turn a faucet on and forget it.
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