How to Renovate Your Home for Your Elderly Parents [6 Methods]

As our parents age, it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain their homes. Many of us are left with the decision of whether to move them into our homes or help them renovate their homes to make them more accessible and safe.

This can be a difficult decision to make, but there are a few things to consider that can help you make the best decision for your family. Adding handrails and grab bars can help older adults move easily if they have trouble with their knees. Removing obstacles and trip hazards can also make the home more accommodating for your parents.

Methods for Renovating Your Home for Elderly Parents

When transferring your elderly parents into your duplex residence, you must consider the physical difficulties and how to make your home comfortable.

Install Home Elevators

Home Elevators can provide much-needed independence and mobility for seniors who may otherwise be confined to one level of the home. Additionally, home elevators can make it easier for caregivers to move around the house and can also provide a safe and convenient way to transport groceries and other items up and down the stairs.

When caring for elderly parents, you know how difficult it can be to move them up and down the stairs constantly. This can be even more challenging if you are also trying to care for young children. Home elevators can remove the strain of moving your parents around the home and make it easier to transport groceries and other items up and down the stairs.

Ensure the Bathroom is Accessible

Due to the numerous possible dangers, restrooms can be challenging for aging parents to handle. Slippery floors, sharp edges, and hot surfaces can all be dangerous for the elderly. Furthermore, bathrooms are frequently small and tight, making it difficult for elders to move about.

There are several options for making the restroom more accessible to elderly parents. Installing grab bars in the tub or shower near the toilet is one alternative. Grab bars provide support and stability for people with trouble standing or sitting. Installing a higher toilet seat is another option.

Making the restroom accessible to elderly parents can aid their independence and safety.

Since you’re thinking about doing all of this, the cost must have crossed your mind once or twice. If you’re worried about breaking the bank, you can work on the bathroom yourself. There are a lot of DIY bathroom remodeling plans online.

Widen the Doorways and Hallways

Suppose your aging parents are relocating to your home. In that case, you may need to expand the doorways and hallways for various reasons. One explanation is that we frequently lose muscle mass and bone integrity as we grow old. Moving around challenging small doors and corridors can be even more challenging.

Another explanation is that many elderly persons have eyesight problems. They may not be able to see as well as they once did, and tight entrances and corridors might make navigation difficult.

Finally, many older persons have trouble keeping their equilibrium. Narrow doorways and passageways can cause trips and falls. Broadening doorways and hallways can assist elderly persons in walking around a little easier and prevent falls and injuries.

Ensure the Floors Are Slip-resistant

Old folks are much more susceptible to stumble and harm themselves than younger people. As the National Institute on Aging reported, falls account for most fatal and non-fatal ailments in elderly individuals. They also discovered that one in every four Americans aged 65 and up ends up falling annually and that falls are the leading cause of traumatic injuries to the brain.

One approach to reducing falls is ensuring the surfaces are slip-resistant. There are numerous flooring options for use in houses. However, some are more slip-resistant than others. Carpeting, for example, is gentler and far less treacherous than tiles or oak. Rugs with non-slip bottoms are also excellent choices. There are a lot of unique flooring choices to choose from that will both complement your home and be slip-resistant at the same time.

You can undertake various other measures to help avoid falls besides slip-resistant flooring. Check that the house is well-lit, inside as well as out. Remove any tripping hazards, such as carpets or unsecured cords.

Add Lighting

If your aging parents are relocating to your home, you ought to add illumination to assist them in seeing more clearly. Poor vision is a prevalent issue among the elderly, and adding enough light can aid them in remaining secure and functional.

When selecting lighting for an older person’s house, there are a few factors to consider. First, help ensure the light is sufficiently bright. This implies using higher-wattage bulbs or adding more fixtures. Second, you should think about color.

Many elderly folks favor softer, warmer light colors over the coarser, colder hues. Third, consider where you want the light fixtures to go. It is critical to provide a combination of background and task-specific illumination so that your parents can see clearly regardless of what tasks they are undertaking.

Adding Security Features

You must make your home more secure for the safety and well-being of your elderly parents. You must keep your home safer by fitting latches on doors and windows, attaching security cameras and sensors, and ensuring that any entrance spots are well-lit.

It is also critical to ensure that any access points are well-lit, as this makes it more difficult for burglars to conceal and simpler for you or your parents to see any unusual behavior. Making your home more secure will provide peace of mind while ensuring your parents’ convenience and protection in their new residence.

Final Words

As our elderly parents age, many of us are left with the decision of whether or not to remodel our duplex homes to make them more accessible. While this can be a daunting task, there are some things you can do to make the process go more smoothly.

Remember that the goal is to make your home more accessible for your parents, not to make it perfect. Don’t sweat the small stuff.

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