In recent decades, the trend of moving older adults into assisted living facilities has shifted towards a more empowering alternative: aging in place. This approach, where seniors opt to stay in their familiar homes, has grown in popularity due to concerns about nursing home staffing, neglect, and cleanliness, particularly in a post-COVID world, the desire for independence, and technological advancements that make home living safer and more convenient.
However, making a home suitable for this lifestyle often requires thoughtful modifications to ensure safety, accessibility, and sustainability. Below, we’ll list out some of the most important changes to consider.
Key Home Modifications for Aging in Place
When planning for aging in place, there are many considerations to ensure a safe and comfortable environment. These enhancements can vary from installing smart systems for convenient control of home functions to making structural changes like doorway expansions for better access. Such modifications support continued independence and home safety at home. Below, we’ve listed out some of the top recommendations to consider when transforming a home to suit aging in place.
Accessibility
Accessibility improvements for aging in place often involve making the home more navigable for those with mobility challenges. Installing ramps and lift systems can significantly ease the transition between levels in multi-story homes, ensuring that all areas remain accessible. Widening doorways is another crucial step, providing ample space for wheelchairs and walkers to pass through comfortably. These modifications not only enhance mobility within the home but also contribute to a safer and more independent living environment for seniors as they age.
Smart Home Technology
Aging in place technologies like smart devices and wearables focus on integrating the home environment with convenience and safety features. These tools, including voice assistants like Siri and Alexa, facilitate tasks from grocery ordering to health monitoring, enhancing accessibility without moving around the house. Additionally, smart home systems can control lighting remotely, while wearables like the Apple Watch offer potentially lifesaving fall detection prevention and emergency notifications, complementing traditional medical alert systems for comprehensive home safety coverage.
Bathroom Modifications
Designing a bathroom for aging in place is crucial due to the high risk of slips and falls in this area, particularly in the shower or bathtub, which are common sites for accidents leading to emergency visits. Incorporating non-slip surfaces, higher toilets, and grip enhancements can help with fall prevention. Installing walk-in tubs or showers equipped with bench seats and grab bars greatly lowers fall risks. For those with mobility issues, options like bathtub transfer benches offer safer access, underscoring the importance of a comprehensive approach to bathroom design for seniors.
Kitchen Adjustments
Adapting kitchens for aging in place will make daily activities safer and more convenient. Lowering cabinets, appliances, and countertops enhances accessibility, especially for wheelchair users or those who prefer sitting while cooking. Adjustments aimed at reducing the need to reach overhead can prevent strain and injury, given the common decrease in shoulder mobility with age. These modifications not only improve the kitchen's usability but also contribute significantly to the home safety and independence of older adults.
Entryway Changes
Enhancing entryway accessibility is one of the most important aspects of aging in place as this is a focal point of the home. Beyond replacing steps with ramps and adding handrails, consider widening doorways to better accommodate mobility aids, which facilitates smoother transitions into and out of the house. Additionally, incorporating weather-resistant materials in these modifications can ensure longevity and reduce maintenance, making the home's entrance both safer and more welcoming for individuals with mobility challenges.
Emergency Alert Systems
Expanding the use of emergency alert systems can significantly enhance safety for aging individuals. Modern systems not only alert family and emergency services during a fall or medical issue but also offer features like health monitoring, GPS tracking for those who may wander, and daily check-in services. Integration with smart home devices can further automate home safety, such as turning off stoves automatically to prevent accidents. These comprehensive solutions offer a robust safety net, ensuring help is always within reach and contributing to a safer, more secure living environment for seniors.
Lighting Improvements
Enhancing lighting in key areas augments seniors’ safety and prevents accidents, significantly improving the quality of life for aging individuals. By adding motion-sensor lights and ensuring even, glare-free illumination, one can minimize shadows and obstacles that could lead to falls. Tailoring lighting to tasks, whether it's cooking in the kitchen or reading in the living room, ensures activities are safer and more enjoyable. Upgrading to LED bulbs can offer brighter, more energy-efficient lighting, further contributing to a safer, more visually accessible home environment.
Flooring Improvements
Flooring, too, can hinder mobility for even those not reliant on mobility equipment. Shaggy carpet and slick rugs can be dangerous to older adults, and high-pile carpet should be swapped out for something with a lower nap to prevent tripping or snagging. Some alternatives to carpet include hardwood, laminate, or tile flooring, but these slippery options may also be hazardous. Should aging homeowners opt for these slick surfaces, laying down low throw rugs that are taped down or set atop grippy rug mats can improve both mobility and safety.
A Final Word From Evergold
For many, aging in place represents a cost-effective and liberating alternative to traditional senior living facilities, offering the chance to live independently while safeguarding assets. Simple home modifications, like those discussed above, can make aging in place a safe, comfortable, and independent experience.
At Evergold, we recognize the value of such adaptations in preserving older adults' independence and dignity. Our Life Plan at Home Program, which provides comprehensive wellness management, care coordination, and financial coverage for services, enhances the aging in place experience, and our team of professionals is here to help you navigate home modifications and offer practical solutions.
Discover how Evergold can facilitate a comfortable and secure life at home by giving us a call at (614) 324-8792 and chatting with one of our team members.
