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

Senior-Friendly Bathroom: The Essentials

Senior-Friendly Bathroom: The Essentials

For ageing adults, performing basic everyday activities and using facilities, such as the kitchen or the bathroom, is becoming increasingly difficult with each passing day. Not only that but being able to take care of their daily activities safely and effectively can also be compromised by their diminishing health and mobility.

This is especially true when bathrooms are concerned, as they pose one of the highest safety-risks in any home. That’s precisely why people – as they get older – usually opt for a bathroom remodel, aiming to create a safe environment they can later use without any major hindrances. With that in mind, here are some senior-friendly bathroom essentials you should definitely keep in mind.

Replace regular faucets with lever faucets

Stiff joints are one of the things that are sure to welcome us once we get older. With it comes the inability to use your hands properly and, more often than not, it’s followed by light tremors and shakes. That’s why, if you’re remodelling a bathroom for your senior loved one, you should install lever-controlled faucets in order to make things at least a bit easier. These completely eliminate the unnecessary twists and turns that can be quite difficult for the elderly.

Opt for a walk-in shower instead of the bathtub

Next, having to climb into a bathtub in order to take a bath is literally impossible for some elderly. That’s why you should consider installing a walk-in shower so that they can enjoy a warm shower without having to overcome significant difficulties. Additionally, consider adding a sprayer attachment for their showerhead, so that they can detach it and hold it in their hands while showering which will make things much, much easier.

Don’t forget the grab bars and rails

Furthermore, install grab bars and rails throughout their bathroom to introduce an additional level of safety. If you provide them with something they can grab onto every time they feel unsure on their feet, you will make the entire bathroom-using experience far more pleasant. Some of the places you should definitely install these are the shower and the toilet area, but you can add them to other areas as well.

Make sure that the bathroom is light

Having lots of light in any room not only makes the room look nicer but it also makes it much safer to use. That’s why in a modern aged care facility the bathrooms are always well-illuminated and bright. Therefore, aside from the natural light, you should make sure that you introduce plenty of artificial lighting options in your senior’s bathroom to prevent any mishaps and make the bathroom safe to use.

Raise the toilet

Another thing you should consider is installing a raised toilet so that your senior loved one can use it as comfortably as possible. The reason behind this is the fact that seniors usually experience difficulties when having to sit down and get back up, so raising a toilet for just a few inches will make the world of difference.

Don’t forget the non-slip bath mats and rugs

Finally, the bathroom floor can be quite a dangerous place, especially for people whose mobility is somewhat impaired. That’s why you should make sure you cover the bathroom floor with quick-dry non-slip rugs and even cover the inside of the shower with non-slip bath mats. This way you’ll reduce the possibility of accidental slips and falls that can have some quite serious consequences.

Therefore, if you’re ever in the need to redecorate a bathroom for your senior loved one, or you’re simply thinking ahead and you want to create a safe oasis for yourself once you get older, keep these ideas in mind. The bathroom can become quite a dangerous place once you get older so taking steps to make it safer to use is always a good idea.

Guest Contributor, Lillian Connors