Hello World! Welcome Friends! Where do you picture yourself living in your golden years? Many prefer to stay exactly where they are, and according to a study, 61% of older adults prefer to stay in their current homes, even if it means living alone. This is possible thanks to smart planning and a wide range of services accessible to seniors. However, every home is unique and will age differently depending on how it is maintained. Below are some tips on age-proofing your home to last you long enough.
1. Make Your Home Feel Safer
You can do a few things to create a safer home. For instance, you can install motion sensor lights in pathways to illuminate them at night. Also, check your home for any cracking pavers or bricks, uneven walks, or fractured concrete, and repair them. Consider putting a strong table or building a shelf beside outside doors where you can drop shopping bags, mail, and parcels to prevent bending to the ground. If you enjoy gardening, add raised beds to expand the amount of time you may spend doing so.
2. Remove Any Potential Barriers
Simplifying your home seating can provide enough space between furniture and walls to create safe and easy-to-navigate paths. So consider reducing the number of furniture pieces in each room. Also, remove any excess clutter and ensure adequate lighting in all spaces. Install railings on both sides of your stairway inside or outside the property. Your throw rugs may boost your home aesthetics, but you want to ensure they don’t pose any slip risks. If necessary, consider replacing them with slip-resistant, non-glare flooring in the living room, bathroom, and kitchen.
3. Use LED, High-Powered Lights
Since aging can affect eyesight, most seniors require higher-quality light to see. Low-level illumination strains the eyes, and because it is more difficult to obtain a good perspective, the elderly may miss obstacles that might trip them. Providing well-lit and bright environments reduce the likelihood of falls and incidents. Experts recommend high-powered, energy-efficient LED lighting since they are good for the eyes and pocket friendly, so feel free to consider this. Also, consider engaging a professional electrician for any lighting installation to avoid compromising safety.
4. Think Forward When Renovating
Consider expanding your entrances and freeing up your floor space when redesigning your restrooms and other living areas to accommodate future additions like walkers or wheelchairs, so feel free to consider this. You can install bracing within the walls surrounding tubs, shower seats, and toilets in bathrooms so that robust grab bars can hold a significant amount of weight, like 250 or 300 pounds. It can also be useful to bring in a trained advisor to assess your home and make necessary recommendations for all home areas, including your basement, dining room, bedroom, and laundry room.
The above are valuable tips if you are worried about aging in place. They are a great starting point for age-proofing your home and ensuring it’s the best you can live for as long as possible.
Click the links below for any posts you have missed:
Hazardous Waste Disposal Methods: Which One to Use?
8 Great Details to Add to Your Garden
How to Pick the Perfect Outfit for a Special Occasion
Can I Get a Title Loan After Bankruptcy?
You Love Animals? Here’s How You Can Build a Great Farm
8 Things to Do if You Want to Storm-Proof Your Roof
I’d love for you to join my email list! You’ll receive a notification straight to your inbox which will include links to my latest home project posts! Simply enter your address below.
Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful day/night depending on where you are in the world! Go with God and remember to be kind to one another!
Toodles,
[…] 4 Practical Ways to Age Proof Your Home […]