Make your home elderly-friendly
Hyderabad: Although many of us live with our elderly parents or grandparents, our houses are not equipped to handle the daily needs of our aged family members. However, a few small tweaks to the furniture layout and lighting can ensure that your living environment is convenient for the older people. One of the most important […]
Hyderabad: Although many of us live with our elderly parents or grandparents, our houses are not equipped to handle the daily needs of our aged family members. However, a few small tweaks to the furniture layout and lighting can ensure that your living environment is convenient for the older people.
One of the most important things to consider is to ensure that the flooring is not slippery, easy to walk on and easy to maintain. While the living areas can be fitted with rugs and carpets, the bathroom flooring might need special attention. One can go for anti-skid tiles in bathrooms. Alternatively, you can go for honed tiles or premium vinyl flooring, as these are water-resistant materials. The house should also cater to the mobility needs and safety requirements of the seniors, with ramps for wheelchairs and stairs with handrails or safety bars.
Elderly people may also not have the same vision as other people in the house. The correct lighting can make several activities such as reading books or instructions on medicines easier for the seniors. Rather than opting for very bright lights, one can go for cooler lights and fewer yellow lights in their house. You might look into installing night lights at various spots in the house to help the elderly navigate in the night, especially to use the bathroom. Another trick is to have a sufficient number of windows to bring in natural lights into the house.
While we all love to deck up our house with fancy furniture, it is advisable to maintain a clean and obstacle-free area to give the older person space to move around confidently. Also remember that very low furniture can sometimes make it difficult for older people to get up and sit down independently. For them, a higher bed is essential. You can also go for standard height furniture for your living room.
The kitchen is an important area, since older family members, especially women, like to engage in daily chores. Try to design the kitchen in a way that it reduces their walking. The kitchen top should be fixed at a suitable height, so that it is easier to use without having to bend over.
Most elders love comfortable lounging spaces like balconies to soak in the sun when having their morning tea or reading the newspaper. Choose chairs with backrests and armrests for support. Even a sturdy swing is a good idea.
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