Friendly Home Modifications for Seniors Aging in Place [Infographic]

There are many hidden risks for the elderly around their home. From unnecessary clutter to uneven thresholds or slippery floors that can cause trips and falls or make it difficult to navigate for seniors with mobility challenges.

Once decided that an aging adult is staying at home, some modifications as well as assistive technologies that can help the age-in-place process safer and comfortable. 

Locate and Adapt Risky Areas 

These are the first areas you should address when making your home more senior-friendly:

• Bathrooms: Many bathrooms have tubs that are too high or showers that have an edge that is not comfortable or safe to step over. When necessary install safety handles and makes sure any carpets inside the bathroom are not a possible fall hazard.
• Doorways: The threshold of a doorway should generally be flush with the ground on either side, but this isn’t always the case. Check all doorways and make the necessary adjustments.
• Kitchens: Worn-down or slippery tiles can be hard to navigate safely, and stovetops, ovens, and other outdated appliances are not always user-friendly or safe. Pantries can also become a hazard if the most commonly used items are not at eyesight making it hard to reach that can cause an accident if the senior adult decided to use a stool or stair to assist reaching it.
• Stairways: Not only can it be exhausting to go up and down those steps over and over every day, but steep staircases also present a dangerous fall risk for seniors. Although this is not always an easy fix, keep an eye for any risk factors that those can cause.
• Bedrooms: When possible, carpets should be altogether removed from the home to avoid trips and falls. When it comes to the bedroom, avoid clothes on the floor and make it a habit to make their bed every day.

Assistive Technology can be your ally.

We have come a long way when it comes to assistive technology there are affordable tools that can assist with safety while aging in place. These tools can be a great solution and are easier to implement, requiring no permanent changes to the home.

• Medical Alert Systems – A medical alert system can be an inexpensive but life-saving tool, whether you have caregivers at home, live in an assisted living facility, or are aging in place in your home, trying to be as independent as possible. These provide monitoring to at-risk elders and reach out to pre-set contacts and emergency services if a fall happens, or the alarm button is pushed.
• Smart Home Devices – Voice-controlled home devices such as Amazon Echo and Google Home are great for the casual user who wants assistance with automated lighting, reminders for medication and appointments, as well as calling your friends and family members.
• Assistive Seating – For a comfortable lift getting out of your favorite armchair, consider an electric or self-powered lifting seat, which slowly tilts you forward to help you into a standing position. Often wrapped in thick memory foam, these seats can be placed on a couch, armchair, or office chair, and are comfortable to sit in for hours.
• Hoyer Lifts – A Hoyer lift is a device intended to provide electrical or manual assistance getting up from a lying down position, such as from a tub or bed. Using a full-body Hoyer lift might require caregiver assistance, though there are a few products available that can be self-operated according to reviews.

If these home modifications do not provide enough assistance to enable living independently, it might make more sense to consider hiring a caregiver to assist with the process. No technology will provide the same level of care that you will find in hiring a professional caregiver. But, these modifications make aging in place a viable and safer option for those who do desire to age in place.