*This is a collaborative post*

As we age, one of our primary desires is to maintain our independence for as long as possible. Aging ‘in place’, or the ability to live in one’s own home comfortably and safely, is a goal shared by many seniors. To achieve this, it’s essential to adapt the home to meet changing needs, especially when mobility becomes a concern. In this article, I will explore various ways to adapt a home to ensure a person can remain independent for longer. Perhaps, this is something you need to be considering for a relative, or perhaps just something to think about for the future.

Assess Your Needs

Before making any modifications to your home, it’s crucial to assess your specific needs or those of your loved one. Consider factors such as mobility limitations, medical conditions, and any foreseeable future changes in health. Consulting with a healthcare professional or occupational therapist can be incredibly helpful in identifying the necessary adaptations for your home.

Modify the Bathroom

The bathroom can be a challenging area for seniors or individuals with mobility issues. Consider the following modifications:

a. Install grab bars: These provide support and stability when getting in and out of the shower or bath and while using the toilet.

b. Raised toilet seats: These make it easier to sit down and stand up from the toilet.

c. Non-slip flooring: Ensure the bathroom floor is slip-resistant to reduce the risk of falls.

d. Walk-in showers: Replace the bath with a walk-in shower to eliminate the need to step over high barriers.

All of these things can make a huge difference to the ability to maintain independence at home.

Make the Kitchen Accessible

The kitchen is another crucial area to adapt. Not being able to cook, or perform basic kitchen tasks, can make people feel anxious and disempowered. Some modifications you can consider include:

a. Lowering countertops: Adjusting the height of countertops allows easier access for those in wheelchairs or with mobility issues.

b. Lever-style faucets: These are easier to operate than traditional knobs.

c. Pull-out shelves and drawers: These provide better access to items stored in lower cabinets.

Widen Doorways and Hallways

If a person uses a mobility aid like a wheelchair or walker, widening doorways and hallways can greatly enhance accessibility within the home. It’s recommended to have a minimum clearance of 36 inches for doorways.

Stairlifts: The Key to Staying Independent

For multi-level homes, one of the most significant barriers to independence is the presence of stairs. Stairlifts, also known as chair lifts or stair gliders, can offer a practical solution. These days, these work on all types of staircases, even those with multiple bends in them, thanks to curved stairlifts.

Benefits of Stairlifts:

a. Enhanced mobility: Stairlifts provide a safe and comfortable way to navigate stairs, allowing individuals to access all levels of their home.

b. Independence: With a stairlift, individuals can move between floors without assistance, maintaining their self-reliance.

c. Safety: Stairlifts are equipped with safety features like seatbelts, sensors, and swivel seats, ensuring a secure journey up and down the stairs.

d. Customisable: Stairlifts can be customised to fit various types of staircases, including straight or curved configurations.

e. Easy installation: Stairlifts can typically be installed without major structural modifications to the home.

f. Space-saving: When not in use, stairlifts can be folded away, leaving the staircase free for others to use.

Lighting and Flooring

Improving lighting throughout the home and using non-glare flooring can significantly enhance safety and visibility, reducing the risk of accidents.

Insufficient lighting can create hazardous conditions in any living space, particularly for seniors or individuals with mobility challenges. Here are some tips on how to improve lighting throughout the home:

a. Install Adequate Lighting Fixtures: Ensure that every room, hallway, and entryway is well-lit with appropriate fixtures. Use brighter bulbs and consider energy-efficient LED lighting for improved visibility.

b. Task Lighting: Install task-specific lighting in areas where detailed work is performed, such as reading nooks, kitchen countertops, and workspaces. Task lighting directs focused light onto specific tasks, reducing eyestrain and enhancing safety.

c. Motion-Activated Lights: Consider motion-activated lights in high-traffic areas, like hallways, bathrooms, and staircases. These lights turn on automatically when motion is detected, providing instant illumination and minimising the risk of tripping.

d. Night Lights: Place night lights in hallways and bathrooms to help individuals navigate their home safely at night without needing to turn on brighter lights, which can disrupt sleep.

Benefits of Non-Glare Flooring:

Choosing the right flooring materials is crucial for reducing the risk of accidents and promoting safety in the home. Non-glare flooring can offer several advantages:

a. Reduced Slip Hazards: Non-glare or matte-finish flooring materials, such as textured tiles, non-slip vinyl, or low-gloss hardwood, provide better traction underfoot, reducing the risk of slips and falls.

b. Improved Visibility: These flooring options often have less reflective surfaces, which means they won’t create distracting glare or reflections that can confuse the eye and lead to accidents.

c. Easy Maintenance: Many non-glare flooring materials are easier to clean and maintain than high-gloss surfaces, making it simpler for individuals to keep their living spaces tidy.

d. Warmth and Comfort: Non-glare flooring can also contribute to a more comfortable and inviting atmosphere in the home. Softer materials like cork or rubber flooring can provide additional cushioning and warmth underfoot.

e. Colour Contrast: Consider choosing flooring materials with contrasting colours to the walls and furniture. This can help individuals with visual impairments better perceive changes in flooring levels and transitions.

Incorporating these lighting and flooring improvements into your home can significantly enhance safety, comfort, and overall quality of life, especially for those who are aging or have mobility limitations. By creating a well-lit, non-glare environment, you provide a welcoming and secure living space that promotes independence and peace of mind.

Emergency Response Systems

Consider installing an emergency response system that allows individuals to call for help in case of an accident or medical emergency, providing peace of mind for both the individual and their loved ones.

Benefits of an Emergency Response System:

a. Rapid Access to Help: An emergency response system provides individuals with a quick and easy way to summon help in case of accidents or medical emergencies, such as falls, sudden illnesses, or adverse reactions to medications.

b. Independence and Peace of Mind: Knowing that help is just a button press away can significantly enhance an individual’s sense of independence and confidence in living alone or with minimal assistance. This peace of mind is equally comforting for their loved ones who may not always be present.

c. 24/7 Monitoring: Most emergency response systems offer round-the-clock monitoring and response services. This means that help is available at any time, day or night, ensuring immediate assistance, even during emergencies that occur in the middle of the night.

d. Customisable Alerts: Many systems allow for customised alerts to be sent to specific individuals or emergency services. For instance, if a fall is detected, the system can automatically contact family members, caregivers, or emergency responders based on the individual’s preferences.

e. Location Tracking: Some advanced systems include GPS tracking features, enabling responders to pinpoint the exact location of the individual, especially if they are outdoors or away from home when an emergency occurs.

f. Two-Way Communication: In addition to alerting responders, many emergency response systems provide two-way communication through a base station or wearable device. This allows individuals to speak directly to a trained operator, providing crucial information about their situation.

Installing an emergency response system in the home is a proactive step toward ensuring the safety and well-being of individuals who may be at risk of accidents or medical emergencies. It provides both the individual and their loved ones with peace of mind, knowing that help is readily available when needed. When selecting a system, carefully assess the features, compatibility, and cost to make an informed choice that suits the specific needs and preferences of the individual in question.

Conclusion

Adapting a home to ensure independence as one ages is a thoughtful and essential investment. By assessing specific needs and making targeted modifications, such as installing stair lifts and implementing other accessibility enhancements, you can create a safe and comfortable living environment. These adaptations not only promote self-reliance but also provide a higher quality of life for seniors and individuals with mobility challenges, allowing them to age in place with dignity and confidence. With that said, getting in touch with a professional occupational therapist may also help improve how seniors with mobility issues live their lives in the long run.