The 3 Modifications To Make At Home To Age In Place
When we all hit retirement age, it’s nice to be able to age in place and enjoy our later years.
Aging in place means staying in your own home as you get older, living safely and comfortably. To do this, you might need to make some changes to your home. These changes can be small, like putting grab bars in the bathroom, or big, like adding ramps or stairlifts.
Without these modifications, your home can become challenging and even hazardous. When you combine modifications with in-home care like these Visiting Angels Kennewick - Best Senior Home Care you have a great formula to age in place.
In this article, we will go over some of the 3 best modifications to make to deal with challenges.
1 - Bathroom changes
The bathroom is one of the most important places to make safer as you get older. It's easy to slip and fall in there because of the wet floors and the need to keep your balance.
First, put in grab bars and handrails around the toilet, shower, and bathtub. These help you stay steady and avoid falls. Think about adding a walk-in shower or bathtub. These make it easier to get in and out without having to step over a high edge.
Raising the toilet seat can also help. A higher toilet is easier to sit on and stand up from, which is great if you have trouble with your joints or strength. Finally, change the flooring to non-slip materials. Non-slip floors are less slippery when wet, making the bathroom much safer.
2 - Entrance and exits
Making the entrances and exits of your home more accessible as well as safer is key as you age. These areas can be particularly problematic without modifications. Steps can become challenging to navigate, especially if you have mobility issues, and uneven thresholds can easily cause trips and falls.
Start by installing ramps or stair lifts. Ramps help you avoid steps, making it easier to get in and out, especially if you use a walker or wheelchair. Stair lifts can be installed if you have stairs at your entryway, providing a safe way to move between levels.
Make sure all thresholds are smooth and level. Uneven thresholds can cause trips and falls, so they should be easy to walk over. Adding non-slip surfaces to ramps and entryways is also important.
3 - Kitchen modifications
The kitchen ends up with a lot of challenges as you age, with high cabinets, deep shelves, and hard-to-reach appliances making daily tasks difficult and sometimes dangerous.
One important modification is lowering countertops and cabinets. Bringing these down to a more accessible height makes it easier to reach items without straining or using a step stool, which can be risky.
Installing pull-out shelves can also make a big difference. These shelves slide out, allowing you to see and reach everything stored in the back without having to bend or stretch too much. This simple change can make using your kitchen much more convenient.
Jenny Kakoudakis likes to blog about interiors. She launched award-winning Seasons in Colour in 2014. When she is not chasing criminals out of the financial system (her day job), she gets creative by redecorating her own home.
Download her free bathroom renovation guide here.
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