Senior-Friendly Home

Some seniors take offence at the sight of a wheel chair or grab bars inside the home. The absence of them, however, does not necessarily mean that your house would be a site for catastrophe for them. There are few simple steps you can do to ensure that these devices will be senior-friendly.

Start your home improvement project by removing clutter all over your residence. Elderly or not, toys and other items littered on the floor can be a cause for accidents. So as much as possible, keep the interior clean at all times. In addition, move furniture, cables and telephone wires so they would not block the path. The next step is to add more lighting. Since seniors often have visual problems, giving them the right amount of illumination can help lessen any bumps as they move around the home. Invest in full spectrum bulbs and additional fixtures as well.

Another thing you can do is add non-skid mats inside the bathroom to avoid risks in slipping and falling. You can place them both inside and outside the shower area for added protection. Consider changing the twist knobs with lever handles as well. If you are suffering from arthritis, then you would understand how inconvenient a twist handle can be. So to give the seniors in your home a reprieve, change the knobs. They would also appreciate it if you can install a seat extender and grab bars inside toilets. This would make sitting up and down easier for them.