5 Tips to Help Your Senior Parent Understand She Needs Home Modifications
As our senior parents advance in age, a variety of challenges and difficulties can arise. These can include modifying a senior’s home to better and more safely accommodate his or her needs. To assist with this process, there are five tips to help your senior parent understand that home modifications may be necessary:
- Individual circumstances require specific home modifications
- Risks of not making modifications
- Modifications will improve the daily life of an aging parent
- Provide examples of other seniors who have made home modifications
- Support aging parents throughout the home modification process
Individual Circumstances Require Specific Home Modifications
It is important to consider their circumstances and needs. As each person ages differently, it’s important to assess the type of modifications suitable for them and their lifestyle. For example, if they have mobility-related issues or difficulty getting around, then installing a stair lift or wheelchair ramp may be necessary. Similarly, if they suffer from dexterity problems or visual impairments, modifications such as grab bars in the bathroom or door knobs with larger handles can help them remain independent and safe in their home environment.
Risks of Not Making Modifications
Explain the potential risks associated with making no changes to your aging parent. Communicating these risks will help your senior parent understand why modifications are necessary for their safety and well-being. Things like falls caused by slippery surfaces or tripping hazards should be discussed so your senior parent understands why some changes may be needed.
Modifications Will Improve the Daily Life of an Aging Parent
Emphasize how certain changes can improve daily tasks and activities around the house. Explain how modifying fixtures such as light switches can reduce strain on eyesight while adding extra lighting in key areas such as stairs can prevent accidents due to poor visibility in low-light conditions. You also want to discuss how useful items such as grab bars or handrails might improve balance when moving inside or outside the home.
Provide Examples of Other Seniors Who Have Made Home Modifications
Provide examples of others who have made similar changes with positive results. Whether it’s an elderly family member who has successfully installed a stair lift or an acquaintance who has added motion-activated lights inside their home – these first-hand accounts of success stories can encourage your senior parent to take action themselves.
Support Aging Parent Throughout the Home Modification Process
Finally, ensure you’re there for support throughout the entire process, from researching different options that fit into your budget to helping them physically implement any changes required at home. This will show that you care about their welfare and allow them to feel more comfortable about accepting any necessary home modifications for them to remain happy and healthy in their environment for years to come.
Most Common Types of Senior Home Modifications
When considering modifications to your senior parent’s residence, you may wonder what is commonly undertaken. These are five more frequently undertaken types of modifications undertaken at a senior’s residence:
- Widened Doorways and Hallways: Seniors must move around safely and easily in their homes. Widening doorways and hallways (if possible) will give them enough space to move around easily, whether using a wheelchair, walker, or cane. Additionally, these wider spaces provide greater accessibility when visitors come over.
- Non-Slip Flooring: Slippery floors pose serious risks for seniors with balance issues or limited mobility. Installing non-slip floorings such as rubber flooring or carpeting with an extra grip can help keep them safe while moving around the house.
- Handrails and Assistive Rails: Installing handrails throughout the house is important because it provides extra support when climbing stairs or walking through hallways. Assistive rails are also great additions as they provide additional support when getting out of bed or using the bathroom facilities.
- Lighting Upgrades: Poor lighting can lead to falls or accidents due to lack of visibility, especially at night. As such, it is important that all areas of the house –indoors and outdoors – be adequately lit up so that seniors can move about without any difficulty or danger.
- Accessible Appliances: For seniors who may have difficulty reaching high shelves or using small knobs on appliances, installing accessible appliances can make life much easier. Examples include countertop microwaves, pull-out refrigerator drawers, front-loading washing machines, and dishwashers and stovetops with large knobs on them instead of buttons which are harder to press down on safely.
Assisted Living as an Alternative to Aging in Place at Home
Finally, assisted living, or senior living, is an increasingly popular alternative to aging in place at home. It is a type of long-term care designed to support seniors who still want to remain independent and enjoy their retirement but may need extra help with daily tasks, such as housekeeping, transportation, meal preparation, and medication assistance. Assisted living facilities offer a wide range of services that cater to different care needs, allowing residents to experience personalized and comprehensive care without sacrificing privacy.
If significant home modifications are needed to accommodate your senior parent continuing to live at home, you and your aging mother or father may want to consider assisted living. When deciding between aging in place at home or moving into an assisted living facility, there are many factors to consider. Studies have shown that assisted living can reduce isolation and anxiety for seniors by providing more opportunities for socialization with other residents and on-site staff. Assisted living communities also often have libraries, fitness centers, salons/spas, movie theaters, swimming pools, and cafes. These amenities can help provide seniors with additional stimulation and recreation activities which help promote continued physical health and mental well-being.
Another benefit of assisted living is that most facilities allow family members to visit their loved ones easily during normal operating hours with no expected notice or appointment needed. This allows families to feel reassured that their loved ones are safe while away from home without needing a third party, such as a home nurse or caregiver. Many facilities offer life enrichment programs designed specifically for the elderly, including art classes, exercise classes, and educational seminars encouraging learning through engaging activities.
In conclusion, when considering an alternative way for your senior parent to age in place at home, there are many benefits associated with choosing assisted living over remaining in a private residence alone. Nonetheless, before taking this significant step, these benefits must be weighed against any potential costs and other considerations. With careful consideration, you will be able to determine which option best suits the needs of your senior parent at this juncture in time.