Five Tips For Creating An Elderly Accessible Home

17 June 2015 by Marvin Carroll

When choosing the right home for an elderly person, it's important to make sure that all of the design elements are accessible. There are steps that you can take to make any home much more user friendly for aging adults. 

Knobs and Handles

You may not think about the impact that a doorknob can have on the elderly, but people with arthritis may have trouble grasping traditional door handles. Instead of rounded handles, consider installing lever-type handles on your doors and faucets. 

Railings

Even a short change in height can be a potential hazard for the elderly. Think about installing railings any time there are steps, even if there are only a few or just one. The shower is another place where falls are likely, so a specialized shower railing is a good step for preventing injuries. You might also want to install a railing along any path that the person would need to take at night, for instance to the bathroom or the refrigerator. This way, they can hold onto the railing without needing to turn on all the lights to avoid tripping.

Carpeting and Rugs

Surfaces that can be slippery, such as hardwood floors or tile, are an accident waiting to happen. If you can afford it, place carpeting in all areas of your home. If this is not in your price range or you want to have the flexibility to change the surface later, rugs will also do the trick. Be sure to stabilize the rugs with rubber grips to keep them from sliding around.

Bathroom Accessories

The bathroom is an area where a lot of improvements can make life easier for an elderly occupant. In addition to the railings mentioned earlier, you could consider upgrading your bathroom appliances to be more user friendly. Accessible toilets include handles and easy-flush levers. A great shower setup includes a shower seat, a lowered shower head, and an installed floor drain to replace tubs so the person doesn't need to climb over the bathtub ledge.

Emergency Supplies

You may not always be home to help your loved one around the house, so you may want to consider installing an emergency help system. This could include an alarm button that dials 911, additional fire detection systems, and a monitoring system that tracks your loved one's activity while you are away from the house. 

Some home modifications for the elderly are very budget friendly, while others may require a bit more financing. At any rate, this checklist will help you get started in making your home safer and more comfortable for an elderly loved one. 

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