Senior-friendly home modifications to support independent living

Most people want to stay in their own home as they get older, in the comfort of familiar surroundings and happy memories. However, aging can bring with it all kinds of mobility and health challenges which make it harder to live independently at home and increase the risk of injury.

Fortunately, there are a number of modifications that can be made to a home to support seniors maintain their independence and continue living in the home they love for as long as possible.

Improve accessibility

One of the main causes of accidents at home among elderly people is a fall. By improving access and making it safer to move around the home, the chance of an accident can be significantly reduced.

The stairs can be the most high-risk area for a person with reduced mobility, but getting a stairlift fitted is an affordable way to make the stairs safe again and ensure access to all levels of the home.

There are stairlifts for all kinds of staircase layouts, including models for very narrow stairs. Straight stairlifts are the cheapest type and will cost from £1200. Curved stairlifts cost from £3950, but the actual price you will pay will vary according to your staircase layout and any optional extras you may want. A reputable stairlift company can advise on the model best suited to the user’s needs.

A relatively easy way to make access safer is to remove any objects from walkways that could cause someone who’s unsteady on their feet to have a trip or bump. For example, removing items of furniture that restrict access can help. Getting rid of rugs or mats is another thing to do, to avoid trip hazards.

Widening doorways is another way of increasing accessibility, particularly for people who use a walking frame to move around the home. This sort of adaptation will require a builder to make sure it is done properly.

Update the Bathroom

The bathroom can be a high-risk area for a fall or accident. It can be an effort for a senior to safely wash themselves in a traditional bathroom, but there are adaptations that can be made to help someone wash themselves unaided.

For seniors with arthritis, turning taps on and off can be tricky. A solution is to replace conventional taps with lever or sensor-operated ones. This is an easy job for a plumber to do.

Fitting grab rails where needed is another relatively simple modification that can make a big difference. Grab rails can provide extra support when someone needs help to stand up, and can be installed next to a toilet or bath. A raised toilet seat could also be fitted to make life easier for someone who has difficulty bending to sit down.

Adaptations that involve a bit more work, but can make all the difference to someone being able to live independently, include putting in non-slip flooring and replacing a bath tub with a walk-in bath, or installing a shower seat.

Improve Visibility

Maximising lighting is key in improving visibility and assisting someone with poor eyesight to move around the home safely. This is something that is often as simple to do as replacing lightbulbs with the brightest ones available.

Sometimes it may be necessary to replace light fittings with ones that don’t cause shade, or getting an electrician to install new lights in poorly lit areas such as a hall or corridor. An electrician can also move light switches to make them easier to reach, if this is needed.

Another option to consider is motion sensor lighting that automatically comes on when it detects movement. This sort of lighting can be particularly useful for exterior lighting, to light up the entrance to a home.

To conclude, there are many senior-friendly home modifications that can be made to support independent living. Improving accessibility and lighting, and updating the bathroom can help older people maintain their independence in their own homes for longer.