As we age, many of us find it more difficult to get around our own homes. Making some home adaptations could make it easier to navigate your home with mobility issues.
For those that love their current home, this can be a much better alternative than having to move to a new property. Below are a few examples of some of the home adaptations you can carry out in order to make your home more elderly-friendly.
Grab rails
Grab rails are rails on the wall that you can hold onto to steady yourself. The most important place to have a rail is next to any stairs, however rails can also be placed along the side of hallways and corridors. It could also be worth installing grab bars in your bathroom next to the toilet and bath – this makes it easier to pull yourself up. Grab bars can similarly be placed next to a bed for this purpose.
Walk-in shower
Many older people with mobility issues struggle to get in and out of a bathtub. Converting your bath into a walk-in shower could make it easier to wash yourself. This could come with a seat attached to the wall that you can sit on if you have trouble standing for long periods. Take your time to explore different walk-in shower designs.
Ramps
Ramps could also be worth installing in certain parts of your home. These are easier to negotiate than steps if you’ve got a wheelchair or a rollator, and could help to reduce potential falls. You should consider replacing any small series of steps with ramps, as well as placing them in front of any raised doorways.
Larger staircases may not be possible to replace with ramps due to likely being too steep (a lift could be better in these cases).
Lifts
Lifts can come in many different forms from stairlifts to full-size elevators. These are worth installing in places where you cannot place a ramp.
Lifts can often be quite expensive to install, so you need to make sure that they are a worthwhile investment. Make sure to compare different designs and choose one that is practical for your home – while compact lifts can often be cheaper, they may not be suitable if you are a wheelchair user.
Smart tech
Smart technology can be a huge help for older people with disabilities. Using an app on your smartphone, it’s possible to control elements in your home such as your lighting and heating remotely by integrating smart technology.
Smart technology can also allow you to see how much energy you’re using as you’re using it, which can be useful for older people living on a tight budget.
A smart central heating system is typically quite easy to set up, while smart lighting may be a little more complicated (if you want to replace all your lights with smart lights). Other elements in your home can also be controlled remotely using smart technology if you desire – this includes shutters, locks and electrical sockets.
