Many people offer to have their elderly parents move in with them and live in a spare bedroom or outbuilding, i.e. a granny flat in the backyard. When an elderly parent moves in, you will need to consider potential risks and take steps to make your home safer and more comfortable. Or perhaps you want to make your home safer for when an aging parent or relative visits. Here are some suggestions to make your home more senior-friendly.

The Risks

Older adults are far more at risk of having accidents in the home. Stairs, hardwood flooring, and sharp edges can all pose a risk and lead to serious injuries. Fortunately, there are dozens of quick and easy ways to adapt your home and make it safer and more comfortable for seniors. Remember that there are plenty of other ways to support an aging parent. If your parent reaches an age when they are unable to live safely and independently at home, then there are a fantastic variety of senior living communities that can offer specialist support.

Focus on your bathroom

Bathrooms can be dangerous for older people and surveys show that up to 80% of falls happen in the bathroom. A fall can result in serious physical injuries and also affect an older adult’s confidence and mental wellbeing. With that in mind, it’s a good idea to focus on making your bathroom senior friendly. You can easier make your bathroom safer for aging relatives by installing non-slip mats next to the shower, bathtub, and sink. Handrails can be installed to make it easier for an elderly parent to get in and out of the shower or bathtub. Keep in mind that getting into a bathtub can be extremely difficult for an older adult, particularly if they have issues with mobility. For that reason, switching to a walk-in shower will make your bathroom a lot safer and more convenient for an elderly parent. You can also buy a shower chair so that aging parents don’t have to stand while showering.

Install stair assistance

Stairs are another hazard in the home, and many seniors injure themselves each year by falling steps. This is why many older people choose to live in single-level properties, i.e. bungalows or ground floor flats. There are many things you can do to make stairs safer for elderly parents. For instance, you can add stair rails on both sides or install a stairlift to provide a safe way for seniors to get up and down the stairs. If your stairs are made from hardwood, then you can add anti-slip strips to reduce the likelihood of slips and falls.

Add bed rails

Many seniors find it tough to get in and out of bed. Installing bed rails will provide solid support to make their daily routine much easier. Handrails will also help to minimize the risk of an elderly parent falling or sustaining an injury while getting in or out of bed.