Design Tips Perfect for Older Adults

Design Tips Perfect for Older Adults

While not everyone can completely remodel their home to fit their aging needs, there are a few design tips that can ensure every older adult has a more pleasant and safer life. The best way to start your renovation is to look at senior homes and seek some inspiration for safe and stylish senior life. Let’s see what older adults need and prefer when it comes to interior design.

Practical entryways

Every house starts with a good entryway, so make sure to make it practical and safe. For instance, fumbling for keys while you hold grocery bags can cause you to get distracted and lose your balance. So, it can be smart to place a small table or bench next to your entrance. This addition will not only boost the practicality of your entryway but also increase its aesthetic appeal.

Safe bathrooms

Many falls at home happen right in the bathroom due to slippery showers, baths and floors. So, consider investing in practical grab bars you can find in many places in senior care facilities. These ensure a more practical and safer entrance and exit out of the bath. But, their stainless steel look can also boost elegance in your space. You can also place them next to your toilet for when you need extra support getting up. Additionally, consider ditching baths and investing in a practical step-in shower and hand-held showerhead. This combination will ensure the most practicality and style.

Good lighting

Any dark corner, poorly-lit room and shady stairway can result in a potential fall or a bump. This is especially important for stairs, hallways and entryways that usually hide the biggest number of obstacles, so it’s no wonder every modern aged care facility is well lit from the entrance to the last room. For instance, if you look at retirement living at Mark Moran Vaucluse you can see that the facility is filled with layered light, both natural and artificial. Their design experts chose to shower the rooms with light to prevent injuries and promote wellbeing. So, make sure to take inspiration from these respectable facilities and light up your space, especially those nooks that can hide sharp corners and other hazards.

Smart doors

In order to boost mobility between rooms, try to invest in pocket doors. They always stay out of the way when opened and they prevent them from getting caught on clothing or walking aids. Additionally, you can also replace all your doorknobs with more practical levers. These are easier to grip and handle, especially for seniors with arthritis and similar afflictions.

Easy-to-climb stairs

For older people, stairs are often a true nightmare. They are exhausting and dangerous, so make sure to equip any stairs in your home with handrails, preferably on both sides. Clearly visible and separate steps can also make your ascend and descend safer, even if your vision is impaired. There are cheap stickers you can get that will allow you to mark your steps and prevent trips and falls.

Anti-slip floors

Oftentimes, danger lurks under your feet. With age, you start to lose your balance and speed, so slips can end up with a serious injury. The easiest way to prevent slips yet keep your home stylish is to invest in nonskid mats under your rugs. If you use a walker or wheelchair to get around, it’s best to opt for a low-pile carpet that won’t get caught in your wheels and walkers. You can also ditch your area rugs and embrace the popular minimalist style that’s also very easy to keep clean.

If you follow these senior design tips, you’ll have a home that will allow you to age with grace, safety and style. You’ll get to enjoy your home for many, many years to come, but whenever you notice you can’t take care of your safety, make sure to find a good senior care facility.

Guest Contributor, Diana Smith

Home Renovation Projects Worth The Investment

Home Renovation Projects Worth The Investment

Just as you deserve to live in a comfortable home, so does your home deserve a worthy makeover from time to time. When done properly, renovation projects can significantly increase the value of your property and make it more pleasant to live in, all in one stroke.

While certain investments focus on maximizing cosiness, others aim to improve appearance. More practical renovation projects even go as far as raising your level of security and reducing your energy losses.

Depending on your budget and ideas, there are always plenty of options available. Here are only some of the top home renovation projects that will take your home to the next level!

1. Upgrade Your Plumbing System

If you’re focused on staying in your home for good, upgrading an old or faulty plumbing system is highly advised. A fair number of homes experience leaks that result in dozens of gallons of water losses per day.

After investing in a new plumbing system, however, leaks and drainage blockages will be history. The new set of pipes will also ensure that you’re receiving a clean water supply, free of hazardous substances.

If you want to increase the safety and value of your home even further, you can also consider investing in monitoring devices that are remotely controlled and ensure that your plumbing system is operating at its max potential at all times.

For those trying to increase the value of their home before selling it, redoing the plumbing fixtures also pays off. As most potential buyers are looking forward to moving into a functional home that requires minimal adjustments, a faulty plumbing system can definitely be a deal breaker.

2. Exterior Cladding

If you're looking forward to giving your home a fresh and cozy look while enhancing its functionality, coating the exteriors of your house with timber cladding is a great solution.

Timber cladding is a popular construction method from the Middle Ages. With this eco-friendly technique, pieces of timber are installed over the interior or exterior walls.

While the solution is relatively cost-effective and quick to implement, it also comes with a set of numerous other benefits that might interest you or potential buyers.

It provides your home with outstanding thermal insulation, resulting in reduced use of energy for cooling or heating your home. Furthermore, your home will be protected by durable wood that provides an entirely new look.

3. Install a Porch

We all need to relax from time to time, and a porch happens to be the ideal place for that. Whether you intend to use it to host BBQ parties, sit under the sun, or simply increase the market value of your home, building a porch in your back or front yard can only benefit you.

If you already have one and aren’t sure what to do with it, consider repainting it and repairing any damaged sections. You are also advised to weather-proof your porch by installing an orangery and bi-folding doors. This will allow you to use the space at any time of the year.

4. Remodel Your Kitchen

Kitchen renovations come with a high return on investment for a good reason. Most people spend a fair amount of time in their kitchen; therefore they want it to be practical, modern, and good-looking.

Smaller kitchen renovation projects include painting the cabinets, replacing cabinet knobs, decorating the walls with moulding, and replacing curtains.

If you want to take on a kitchen renovation project of a higher scale, however, consider replacing out-dated appliances, cabinets, floors, and most importantly, the countertops, as well as the pipes.

5. Install a Surveillance System

In a world where crime is nothing out of the ordinary, making sure that your home is secure is crucial to your well-being. You can never be too safe.

As it happens, CCTV is one of the best ways to keep unwanted guests at bay. CCTV surveillance systems come in various shapes and provide different features that homeowners can use to make the most out of their security system. One such feature that most cameras offer is remote monitoring, which allows the user to see what’s going on inside or outside their house at any given time. An even better option would be to go for remote monitored CCTV that is hooked up to a control centre, where someone else will do the monitoring when you are not home.

Make sure to set cameras in locations that cover a lot of ground and represent primary points of entry. Some examples include balconies, backdoor, garage, and front door. Furthermore, to increase the efficiency of your security system, consider removing any vegetation around your house that is blocking the view of your cameras.

Final Words

Certain home renovation projects are bound to increase your comfort and add to the value of your home when done correctly. Before taking on any major quest, make sure to take your budget and needs into consideration. It is up to you to decide whether you want to increase the level of your security, make sure your plumbing is done right, or give your house an entirely new look. Hopefully, the solutions mentioned in this post will give you an idea of what you should do next and inspire you to step into action!

Guest Contributor, Kevin Jefferson