Did you know that an older adult falls every second of every day in the U.S.? That makes falling incidents the leading cause of injuries and fatalities among older Americans.
If you have an elderly parent living with you, what home improvement projects should you consider to reduce the odds of them falling?
There are tons of options. What follows is a look at six things to consider doing to your home.
1. Install Grab Bars
One of the easiest projects you can do is to install grab bars in areas of your home where the risks of falling are highest. For instance, you can install a grab bar or railing near the bathtub, toilet, and bed.
When getting installing grab bars, ensure they can easily accommodate the weight of your elderly loved one. And ensure they’re installed into wall studs rather than into mere sheetrock. Your aging loved one will be much safer with some grab bars installed in the necessary spaces.
2. Install Outdoor Ramps
If the entrance to your home isn’t level with the ground, you might want to install outdoor ramps that make it easy to navigate a wheelchair. Again, stairs can be a hindrance to someone with mobility issues. It can be easier to install outdoor ramps that make entering and exiting easier.
3. Elevator or Lift
Another option is to install an elevator or lift to make for even easier movement from story to story. You might also want to get a stair lift. That’ll ensure your elderly loved one doesn’t have to get from floor to floor and help reduce the risks of trips, slips, and falls in the home.
4. Install Smart Home Technology
Did you know there is smart home technology that can allow someone to lock or unlock a door remotely, check to see who’s at the door without leaving the sofa, or turn lights on and off using an app? And that’s just for starters. The right smart tech will make your home safer for an elderly loved one. One thing to remember is the need to ensure that everyone in the home knows how to use the technology.
5. Change Flooring
To reduce fall risks, you need to look at the flooring in your home. Do you have carpeting in your home? If so, ensure the carpet is attached correctly and isn’t overly thick. You’ll also want to ensure that your flooring is resistant to slipping. This is especially important in the bathroom or kitchen where the flooring tends to be slippery. If you don’t change your flooring, you might be able to apply an anti-slip coating for a fraction of the cost of getting new flooring.
6. Update Lighting
One way to reduce fall risks is to ensure there’s adequate lighting in your home. Look at the lights in the hallways, bathrooms, bedrooms, kitchen, den, basement, and other rooms in your home. It might make sense to install some motion-activated lighting that comes on as needed. Do you like smart home technology? One option is to get smart bulbs that can be programmed to switch on and off at desired times. It can help make your home safer for an elderly loved one.
Bonus Tip
While you can install many things to make your home safer for an elderly relative, nothing can replace the human touch. There may come a time when your elderly mom or dad needs in-home care. You’ll want to keep that in mind and research now to know what to do if extra in-home assistance is required. You might be wary about having someone you don’t know come into your home to care for an elderly loved one. But one option you’ll want to know about will allow you to choose the person providing the necessary care. The caregiver can be a family member or a friend. You and your aging loved one will be more comfortable with this option.
If you want to ensure your elderly loved one can age in place, you need to make sure your home is safe. Too many falls happen daily, and falls can be deadly for senior citizens. But the risks can be significantly reduced or even eliminated with a few changes in your home.
