According to a 2021 AARP report, 75% of older Americans want to live in their current homes and neighborhoods as long as possible. Most of these adults prefer to stay in their own homes with help from family members or a professional caregiver instead of relocating to an assisted living facility. Assisted living facilities are expensive, with nursing home costs averaging over $100,000 per year. So, aging in place may not just be preferred by seniors but also a more cost-effective option in the long run. The best way to successfully age in place is to modify your home for the needs that arise with old age. The following sections will go over these different needs and how you can remodel a home to meet them.
12 Easy Ways to Modify Your Home to Age in Place
Getting Started with Home Modifications
As the population of older adults continues to grow, home modifications are a key factor in enabling individuals to “age in place.” Making modifications to a person’s environment is of the utmost importance to ensure a person’s safety and independence.
Start with the items that you can resolve quickly and with the least expense. Often trip hazards are the biggest obstacles for seniors in the home. With a few slight changes you can go a long way with making a safer environment.
Here are 12 home modifications for aging in place.
1. Add More Lighting Fixtures and Increase Bulb Wattage
One of the greatest (and most unexpected) risks for older adults around the home is poor lighting conditions. As we age, we have trouble seeing with dimmer lighting. Home modifications for aging in place that you might want to consider are using higher-wattage bulbs; this will help brighten the room without needing to add more fixtures. Also, focus on incorporating more direct task lighting in those areas where you spend the most time, like the shower, near the kitchen sink, and above your bed.
2. Add Night Lights
Light is particularly important at night, so add plug-in night lights throughout the house so you can see where you’re going. This simple senior home modification is especially important in the bathroom and kitchen if you tend to wake up frequently to use the restroom or grab a midnight snack.
3. Install Rocker-Style Light Switches
Often, home care equipment for elderly parents includes small items that make a big impact. A handyman or electrician can install push-style light switches. These flip switches require less effort and are easier to use than toggle switches. If your hands are full, for example, you can push the light on with your elbow or shoulder. This is an easy quick-fix home modification for aging in place.
4. Take Care of Your Stairs
One of the most important senior home modifications is adapting the staircase. Stairs can be the most dangerous part of the house because of narrow or steep steps, slippery floors, and uneven thresholds. A little trip can do a lot of damage. Make sure your stairs have sturdy handrails that run the entire length of the staircase. (This is true for steps outside the home, as well.) If you are transitioning to a walker or wheelchair, consider installing a stair lift, which is helpful home care equipment for elderly people with mobility issues.
5. Add Swing-Clear Hinges to Doors
If you don’t want to widen your doorways but need a little extra room to maneuver, another senior home modification to consider is to replace your door’s standard hinges with swing-clear hinges. These allow the door to swing completely clear of the door opening, which can add about 1.5” to 2” of additional clearance.
6. Reduce Clutter
There’s a reason minimalism is so popular right now: because clutter can actually be bad for your mental and physical health. Studies show that clutter can impact our mental health and well-being. Moreover, the more clutter there is, the more likely you’ll bump into something and get injured. It will also make it harder to find any items you’re looking for, which can be taxing on your physical health.
This doesn’t mean you have to get rid of your favorite trinkets or elements of nostalgia. Instead, focus on getting rid of those items that are simply taking up space. This might include old clothes, unnecessary furniture, and extra appliances that you don’t use. A clean house will feel much more comfortable – and it will be safer.
7. Reorganize
Sometimes, senior home modifications aren’t about buying special home care equipment for the elderly–it can mean just reorganizing your space. As you’re decluttering, organize your storage spaces so they are more accessible. Don’t store heavy items on high shelves that can fall on you. Put items used most frequently towards the front for easy access.
8. Clear Pathways Around Your Home
Now that you have less clutter, make sure there aren’t any items in the pathways around your home. You want at least three-foot wide paths through each room so you can maneuver easily. This may mean rearranging furniture, moving electrical cords (that can be a tripping hazard), and getting rid of throw rugs.
9. Install Smart Home Features
One of the best developments in home care equipment for the elderly has been smart home devices. Home monitoring systems, smart door locks, video doorbells, and temperature controls can improve your safety and quality of life. You may want to consider voice-controlled personal assistant devices that can manage your lights, TV, thermostat, and other home features with just your voice.
One of the best features of these kinds of senior home modifications is that you can even put your thermostat and lights on a timer. Turn your lights on at the same time each night to help you see better. Warm up your house in the evenings. Or, you can even have the TV go on automatically to welcome you when you come home!
10. Throw Out Your Throw Rugs
Throw rugs are a major tripping hazard. Replace area rugs with slip-resistant flooring or skid-resistant mats. In wet areas like the bathroom and kitchen, slip-resistant mats are an easy way to modify your home and make it easier to age in place.
11. Rethink Your Bathroom
The bathroom is where we see a lot of important home modifications for aging in place. Follow the tips below to make your bathroom more accessible and comfortable:
- Add a shower chair
- Consider elevated toilet seats and safety frames.
- Attach a removable shower head so you can pull the shower head down for better cleaning.
- Install grab bars in the bathroom. Have them professionally installed. Don’t trust suction cup grab bars to hold your weight.
- Add safety steps for the bathtub, or consider home improvement projects such as converting your existing bath and shower into a walk-in tub and a walk-in shower.
- Invest in a heated towel rack with an auto-off function to warm up your towels and stave off the cold.
- Move your toiletries and medications to an accessible, easy-to-reach place.
12. Make Your Bed Extra Comfortable
Rest is important, so include some cozy home modifications for aging in place. This could include putting a phone by the bed in case you need assistance in the middle of the night – or maybe you just want to chat with a loved one from bed. Have a large nightstand with plenty of space for your nighttime essentials. Consider bed rails as a senior home modification to prevent rolling off the bed and to help sit up in the mornings. You might also want to add padding on sharp corners.
Making home modifications may need some additional equipment to ensure safety of your loved one. These items can be added as needs change at home. Depending on the budget you may be able to obtain assistance from waiver programs.
Assistive Technology Also Makes Aging in Place Safer
In addition to the many home modifications available today, assistive technology can be a great solution that is easier to implement, requiring no permanent changes to your home. From home monitoring systems that could replace a caregiver for a more independent elder such as medical alert, home monitoring, and activity monitoring systems, to assistive seating devices, there are a plethora of affordable tools for the person who wishes to increase their safety while aging in place.
Medical Alert Systems
One of the most valuable tools available to a person aging in place is a medical alert system. Medical alert systems 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.
These alarm systems are available as easy-to-use smartphone apps, and as wearable devices like a necklace or bracelet. The wearable styles usually connect to a home base that is easily installed on a wall or can be set on a flat surface. Many alarms have two-way speakers on them, allowing for direct communication between the wearer and their emergency contact, and some work like a doorbell, ringing an alarm in the home base when the button is pushed.
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 on your own.
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, access to your media, calling your friends, and easy ordering of groceries and household products as they run out. You can also install smart doorbells at your front door that connect to Alexa and provide a variety of functions, including video monitoring, customized ringtones (including those to deter predators), and two-way conversations. These devices are easily set up, connecting to an app on your smartphone where you can set up your personalized settings.
Personal Monitoring Devices
Personal monitoring devices like the high-tech FitBit Ultra can help you keep track of your activity level, as well as how much sleep you’re getting, your water intake, and more health-related functions.
Smart Lighting
Smart lighting is another excellent independence booster. If you wake up at night to use the restroom, automatic lighting removes the stress of stumbling around until you reach the light switch. Easily wall-mounted cordless lights are available on the market for only a few dollars each that will light up when you walk by. Also, there are many systems available that provide scheduled lighting that you set up with your smartphones Alexa or Google Home apps.
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.
Having a hand up can not only increase your independence but has health benefits too: after a long, tiring day, sore muscles can be easily overworked by straining to get up, and anxiety about hurting yourself by trying to get up can compound exhaustion and just make you miserable. Investing in an every-day assistive device like a lifting seat can be a great idea to help keep you comfortable in your own home for as long as possible.
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.
Other types of Hoyer lifts include a sit-to-stand lift, which can be an invaluable tool when a lifting seat doesn’t provide the stability that you’re looking for. These devices typically stay in one place, by your favorite seat, and help pull you to a standing position- some provide motorized lifting and you simply hold on, others require you manually pump the handles to pull yourself up, ensuring you don’t lose
If these home modifications do not provide enough assistance to enable you to live independently, it might make more sense to consider seeking out a retirement community to tour. No technology will provide the same level of care that you will find in an assisted living community, where it is standard for residents to receive assistance with all activities of daily living as needed. But these modifications make aging in place a viable and safer option for those who do desire to age in place.
Aging in Place Safely and Comfortably
Aging in place is an ever-growing movement that allows older people to reclaim their independence while remaining in the comfort of their own home. Even if you or a family member is still in good health, aging can bring unforeseen challenges that make even simple daily activities difficult.
Prepare for these challenges as you age by modifying your home with universal design and accessibility in mind. The functionality and safety of your home will age well, just as you do. With home modifications and safety measures in place, you and your loved ones can thrive through every stage of life.
Promedcare
Being a family-owned business, the owners of Promedcare are engaged in the day-to-day operations and get to know both clients and caregivers on a first-name basis. Having both owners and staff present vs. working remotely with our clients creates a feel of FAMILY and allows Promedcare to create an environment of care that reduces turnover and increases dedication to the brand. We provide 24/7 service with the ability to interact with Senior Management and the owners as needed.
Promedcare has evolved into a caring business that focuses on individuals’ specific needs and preferences. This type of care fosters independence, happiness, and a sense of familiarity by acknowledging older individuals’ desire to age in the comfort of their own homes.
For some, it’s to provide extensive ongoing care for an aging senior. For others, we offer a much-needed break or, respite care – such as a night out with a spouse, vacation, or simply a few hours of quiet time at home – for family members who provide regular care. We offer a wide range of care services customized for each individual client.
Promedcare services include Personal Care Services, Companion Care Services, Dementia / Alzheimer’s Care Services, and Respiratory Solutions.
Contact us today to see how Prodmedcare can help you!