Essentially, these are definitely the design suggestions you need to be aware of if your elderly parents are thinking about relocating so they can receive better in-home care. In the long term, it is indeed likely that you’ll have to accommodate your aging parents. Hence, you must create the most pleasant environment possible in your home, to protect their safety as well as their freedom to move around.
How To Design An Elderly-Friendly Home
The interior design of their household, may it be in senior assisted living centers, may need to be changed to accommodate their demands and comfort, whether they live with senior people or are supporting elderly parents modify a place. A lot of active seniors value their freedom, and from performing household tasks to making adjustments, they should be able to do so with a minimum of effort.
Having said that, below are some furnishings and design suggestions for making a home suitable for senior citizens:
1. Kitchen
To keep everything handy, the kitchen must be both efficient and functional. It is advised to incorporate lower racks into your kitchen layout to reduce the need to use stools. Moreover, to avoid strain when stooping over to access the back of cupboards, you can think about adding detachable shelves or placing pull-down shelves for easier access.
2. Bedroom
Make sure to arrange the bedroom so that anything your seniors use frequently is easy to get. Invest in a side table or bedside cabinets so you may utilize them as storage. Moreover, install light fittings that are simple to operate or keep a flashlight close by in case of an emergency. Also, provide a large wardrobe in the room design as well. Things can be securely contained in this fashion without risk of injury from falling objects.
3. Living Room
Keep clutter at bay and obstructions out of sight while designing your living area. Naturally, you wouldn’t want your ageing parents to trip or knock into anything, so choose well-lit areas. Moreover, choose furniture that offers superior lumbar support, such as padded armchairs or loungers, for additional convenience. Since carpets pose a greater danger of tripping and falling, try to avoid them.
4. Bathroom
Elderly individuals need a lot of space in the restroom, so make sure it is safe for them. So that they can be more comfortably accommodated, limit the decorations to a minimum. Anti-slip tiles are also preferable, and add grab bars on the sides of the toilet to make it safer to stand up or take a seat, as well as a ramp at the doorway for people in wheelchairs. Moreover, a step-in shower is better than a bathtub, like a handheld showerhead that is simpler to operate than those of a fixed shower head.
5. Lighting
Vision changes and eye problems are frequent side effects of aging. It is essential to have an adequate amount of ambient lighting that is distributed evenly and without glare; consider brighter, cooler lights as opposed to dim, yellow ones. To locate objects quickly and avoid accidents, install light switches and focused lighting inside cupboards, cabinets, or functional units. If the brightness and angle are adjustable, such adequate lighting can be less straining on an elderly person’s eyes.
6. Floor
Although glossy stone and marble tiles have a beautiful appearance, they frequently do not provide enough grip, which could also cause slips and falls. It is good to put non-skid tiles, particularly in the kitchen and bathrooms. Steps and thresholds with raised flooring can also present a trip risk so make sure to let your interior designer include anti slip floor tiles, with nano anti slip treatment wherever needed. Consider a ramp as an alternative if you need flooring with varied heights. If there is an elderly person or a wheelchair user at home, this is extremely helpful.
7. Doors
Door knobs can truly be a pain for elderly persons with arthritis. To make things simpler for elderly people, substitute them with levers. If you choose swing doors, make sure they open outward so the helper may enter more easily if the elderly person is trapped behind the bathroom door. Although the seniors may have trouble grabbing and twisting a doorknob, other choices incorporate doorways with push-pull systems, U-shaped handles, or lever handles.
8. Stairs
Consider putting grab bars and rails for the stairs in the same place to provide additional support. They are also helpful if your house contains staircases or bathrooms with slick surfaces. Regarding bathrooms, they can be furnished with seats or shower chairs to make having a bath more relaxing and secure, while also considering anti slip rug underlays for the floors.
9. Tables
Along with not being placed in a way that makes it difficult for elders to walk around, furniture should also be inspected for any sharp edges. Small, rounded coffee tables, for one, are safer and offer more space for movement.
10. Cabinets
Clutter makes the home more likely to have accidents with objects and makes finding things take longer. Even though you would want enough space, keep it reachable. It is simple to collect objects without having to reach or get on a stool with storage drawers that include shelves and long wall cabinets.
Start Creating a Safe, Secured Space for Your Elders at Home
Making a space that is accommodating to older family members who are growing on in years may seem like a nuisance. Consider it this way, though, once you plan a house so that the elderly may maintain their dignity and their autonomy on a daily, it boosts their spirits and lowers the risk of depression. Further, it relieves the strain on caregivers, who might already be overworked from their jobs and personal obligations.
That said, Retire Genie is working to develop secure, welcoming elderly group homes in Singapore as the population ages, and we should play our part for the elderly as well!
