Living spaces can become hard to navigate with changing bodies and brains, so here we offer a few tips and tricks to make the living space the most welcoming and friendly for your loved one! Creating an age-friendly space entails ensuring the area is set up to help seniors live safely and comfortably. This blog post will explore some of these tips and tricks and how they can be implemented in your own home. As we age, it is vital that we can remain independent, and these tips will help ensure independence remains. Some of the most common areas with hazards are objects on the floor, inadequate lighting, slippery surfaces, and lack of safety devices. The following recommendations are adaptable from person to person, making life a little easier for the individual and their family!
Broad recommendations through the entire living space:
Keeping space as clean and clutter-free as possible
No loose cords/wires
Removing lose area rugs or using a non-slip/securable area rug
Spaces are wide enough to accommodate necessary mobility devices and easy movement
Rearranging furniture as necessary
Railing(s) and stairs are non-slip and easy to navigate
Installing a railing on each side for extra support
Installing a stairlift if necessary
Bright tape on the edges of stairs
Home is safe and comfortable
Adequate ambient indoor lighting
Ensuring light switches are placed at a height reachable by a person
Safety grab bars installed if needed
Wipe up spills/mess right away
Exploring mobility devices as needed
Utilizing grips on doorknobs, or levered handles
Ensure door locks are easily turn-able
Switching to front-load laundry machines
More recommendations for individual rooms include:
Kitchen
Adequate lighting
Lever handles on faucets
Utilizing automatic shutoff appliances
Storing regular-use items in easy-to-reach locations
Pots, pans, and supplies
Store commonly used items at the front of the fridge
Ensure spills are cleaned promptly
Minimizing the number and distance items that need to be carried
Utilizing a Reacher
Utilizing stove knob turner to limit reaching
Living room
Adequate lighting
Clear pathways
Minimal clutter
Using furniture risers as needed
Using firm and foam cushions
Installing a floor to ceiling pole/assistive device to use for rising/lowering to/from furniture
Bedroom:
Adequate lighting
Adequate lighting at night for nighttime bathroom trips
Ensure pathway for individual and their mobility device to access the bed
Ensure needed items are within reach
Considering assistive devices as needed
Commode next to the bed
Transfer device to get in/out of bed
Bathroom:
Bathing equipment like a shower chair or bathtub transfer bench
Step-in shower installation is possible
Grab bars as needed
Adequate lighting
Toilet seat riser/commode
A grabber to minimize bending or to reach
Remove towel handle bars
Lever handles on faucets
Secured non-slip mats/stickers through bathroom and inside shower
Bright light inside the shower
Utilizing a shower caddy so all regular use products are together to minimize reaching
Wet floors are cleaned up promptly
Wipe up spills/mess right away
Outdoors:
Adequate lighting
Non-slip surfacing
Removing hazards such as leaves, ice, and snow
Keeping paved pathway free from obstruction
Repair damages in pathways
Utilizing a double railing with stairs
Installing a ramp where stairs are, as needed
It is important to regularly evaluate the needs of your loved ones and evaluate the safety of their living space to add more changes if needed. Modifications can range from a few basic changes to a complete renovation, but the person who lives in that space must be consulted regardless of the selected options. It is imperative to remember that what might be assumed to be a small change can feel like a very big and overwhelming change for the older adult.
-Ashley