There comes a time in all of our lives when well will have to start taking care of our elderly relatives. It’s a difficult thing to come to terms with, and a lot of people struggle with it, but you need to start making some big decisions. If things are too difficult for you, it may be best to put them into a care facility where they will get round the clock care. But if you are able, you may decide that you want to care for them yourself and move them into your home. If you are going to do that, you need to consider your home environment and how suitable it is for an elderly person. They may have limited mobility and there are potential dangers in the home that need to be dealt with. If you want to give them the right level of care and make sure that they’re safe, you need to make these important changes to your home.
Flooring
Slippery surfaces inside and outside the home are a danger for elderly people that are not so steady on their feet. If you have a lot of particularly slippery surfaces in the home, you may need to change the flooring and add non-slip materials instead. Outside the home, surfaces will be dangerous when they are wet in the winter, so you should add some non-slip strips. You should also make some repairs if there are cracks and uneven areas of pavement.
Furniture
When you are caring for them, it’s important that you keep them comfortable, especially if they have medical issues that can cause them pain. That’s why you need to invest in specific aged care furniture which is designed for their comfort. You need to make sure that you choose furniture that they can easily get up and down on, so they don’t need to ask for your help every time they want to get up. These small changes can help them to maintain their independence for as long as possible, and that’s very important.
Bathroom
The bathroom is a particularly dangerous area for elderly people because there are a lot of hazards. The biggest danger is falling because there are a lot of slippery surfaces. It’s important that you get rubber mats on the floor to help with their stability, and some rails around the toilet so they can balance. You should also consider adapting the bath with a side door so it is safer for them getting in and out.
Stairs
As they get older, it will be harder for them to get up the stairs and eventually, they may not be able to get up on their own at all. If you want them to maintain their independence, you should install a stairlift so they can get up and down without your assistance.
If you make these alterations to your home, you will make it a lot easier to care for an elderly relative and help them to improve their quality of life.
