Adapting Your Home for an Elderly Relative

There can come a point in your life when you consider whether having your parents or other elderly relatives come to live in your home. It can be the best solution when someone might need some extra support or even if they just need to save some money. While it's not always an easy decision to make, it's often the one that people decide is best. If you're going to have an older relative come and live with you, you might want to consider the needs that they have. Although they might not have any particular needs now, it's worth thinking about how things might change in the future too. Making adaptations to your home can help to make them more welcome.

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Address Steps and Stairs

Struggling to get up steps and stairs is common for older people who might have issues with mobility. The first thing you can think about doing is addressing any steps or stairs you might have in your home. Steps at entrance ways could be replaced with ramps, but it's also possible to install a rail that your relative can hold onto when they go up and down. The same thing can be done for any small sets of steps you might have in split levels inside. When it comes to stairs, a stairlift is often the solution that works best.

Choose Adapted Furniture

Being comfortable when sitting and lying down are two things that everyone wants in their own home. Getting up and down can be difficult with limited mobility, but there are solutions that you can choose. One option to consider is lift chairs, which help people sit down and stand up, and are especially useful for those with back problems. Adapted beds are available too, and can be moved into different positions. Another thing to consider is an adapted bathtub, which can have a door on the side, or a shower cubicle with a seat.

Install Rails and Bars

Another solution that can be useful for your loved one is to install things for them to hold onto. These can be useful around the house but are particularly helpful when installed in the bathroom. Rails and bars can be used to hold onto when getting up and down, standing somewhere less stable (such as a slippery floor) or when transferring from one place to another, such as from a bed to a wheelchair. Think carefully about where these might be most useful.

Consider Sight or Hearing Problems

People with limited sight or hearing might also need some extra adaptations. People who are deaf or hard of hearing can benefit from tools such as doorbells with lights so that they know when someone is at the door without having to hear the bell. People with sight problems will benefit from having a neatly laid out home that they can memorize. Removing problems like loose carpet or clutter will mean there are fewer trip hazards.

When you adapt your home for an elderly relative, be sure to keep them involved. They should get a say in the changes that you make.