Preparing your home for elderly house guests will benefit your entire family. Household hazards are dangerous to everyone, no matter how many birthdays they've celebrated. While there are a few items that will require more scrutiny if you're having older visitors, any purchases or minor improvements you make to your house on their behalf now can help you "age in place" and live more independently as the years go by. Here are tips. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Check the inside and outside of your house thoroughly for possible tripping hazards. Falls are the number-one cause of injury to elderly people. Examine chair legs and stairs and remove throw rugs during your elderly visitor's stay.
2. Give extra attention to the bathroom, where most falls occur. Porcelain is unforgiving to a head or hip, so replace no-slip mats inside the bath and shower if they're loose and check that bath mats or rugs outside the bath/shower area have non-skid backing. You can purchase a grab bar for inside the bath and shower for as little as $50, but check that the label states the bar meets the Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines for safety.
3. Review your lighting and upgrade if needed, especially in the hallways and on the stairs, two very dangerous areas for aging eyes. Purchase a few of those stick on lamps for drawers and closets.
4. Install lever-type door handles which are easier to use by people with arthritis. They cost about $20, but you may end up appreciating them as well.
5. Take into consideration any mobility limits your elderly guest may have and plan ahead. Be sure their room is close to a bathroom. If they use a wheelchair or walker, the doorways to their room and the bathroom should be wide enough. Rather than remodeling door frames, some experts suggest installing doors with swing-clear hinges, which can add an extra inch or two of space.
6. Make sure outdoor steps, porches and driveways are kept free of snow and ice in the winter. Don't leave pets' or children's toys scattered around, inside or out.
7. Be respectful of your elderly guest's desire for privacy. Take into consideration any dietary needs to eat on a regular schedule. While your life doesn't have to come to a grinding halt during their stay, try to keep the household noise level and general pace to a level that's comfortable for your guest.
Tags: bath shower, your elderly, check that, elderly guest, inside bath
