How To Adapt Your Home For An Elderly Parent
As your parents grow older, whether they are healthy or with medical conditions, they will soon need someone to help them with their daily activities.
17/12/2019
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When your parents’ mobility and independence are decreasing, you will find yourself facing more caregiving responsibilities. Things can get harder even if you have already hired caregivers. To make it easier for you, your elderly parent and your hired caregivers, making changes at home is highly recommended.
There are different changes that you can do to make your home adaptable for your elderly parents. You must make changes depending on your elderly parent’s specific needs. Here are additional steps you can do to make things easier for everyone.
Replacing Traditional Toilet Seat with Elevated Toilet Seat with Armrests
As the world’s population increases, so are the number of elderlies. The number of home care for elderlies has increased so is the number of assistive technology products. These products are meant to increase individual independence and safety among elderlies with mobility problems. One popular product that you can find in the market is an elevated toilet seat.
What are the benefits of having an elevated toilet chair?
• Larger width to accommodate large individuals
• Can be raised up to 3 to 6 more inches to reduce the distance between the user and the toilet
• Comes with features like strap, arm support, splash guards, padding
Replacing Stairs with Ramps
Walking up and down the stairs increases the risks of falling and accidents for elderlies. Minimize this risk by replacing stairs with ramps. If your elderly parent is in a wheelchair, a ramp can make it easier for them and for their caregivers to move around.
Check Your Lighting and Make Sure the Entire House is Properly Lit
Even with glasses, your elderly parent will still need brighter lights for them to see everything. Poor lighting increases the risk of falling and tumbling down. Make sure that every corner of your home is well-lit.
Installing Grab Bar for Safety
Where’s the best place to install grab bars? A grab bar can help your elderly parents support themselves every time they move around. You can have it on the staircase, in the hallways, in the bathroom or shower room, and near their bed.
Grab bars don’t just help your elderly parents and their caregiver move easily and safer, it can also give you peace of mind knowing that they are moving with ease.
For added security, make sure to have a professional install the grab bars around your home. Grab bars are specifically made to provide support and its success depends highly on how it is being installed. The safety of your elderly parents will depend on the structural soundness of these grab bars.
Final Thoughts
As your parents grow older, whether they are healthy or with medical conditions, they will soon need someone to help them with their daily activities. Someone has to keep an eye on them to prevent accidents. To make things easier for the entire family, having a care professional is a must in addition to home modifications.
Bathroom modification is one of the first things that you have to do because they use it regularly. A bathroom’s wet floor increases their risk of slipping and falling. With an elevated toilet seat and grab bars to support them every step of the way, your elderly parent can find it safer and easier to move around on their own and with their caregiver.