PH Real Estate - How Homes with an Elderly Should be Furnished

How does one make a home, elderly-friendly? When living with elderly people, you need to be extra careful in furnishing your home to make it easier for them to get around when they feel like it. Every aspect of the home must be designed to cater to the requirements of the aged. Laws have mandated that public buildings and places have to be constructed with the elderly needs in mind. Similarly, homes have to be adjusted to conform to requirements for easy movement of the elderly.

Discussed below are tips to create a comfy home for the elderly:

#1 – Stair-less and step-less entry and exit ways

The entrance should be without stairs or steps. These are most convenient and advisable for homes with an elderly. Many aged people use walking aids such as crutches and wheelchairs and it is difficult to push a wheelchair through a step. 

Crutches can get caught on a rung and might cause the elder to fall. Even entry to rooms should be free of barriers. The garage entry should be free of steps. You should be able to roll a wheelchair from the garage to the house.

#2 – Elderly equipped and spacious bathrooms

Provide a wide space in the bathroom to allow the elders to move easily. There should be grab bars to help the elderly move. Install roll-in shower to allow the elderly to have a private bath. 

Even an elder in a wheelchair can easily take a bath without assistance with the roll-in shower. You need to install the sink at a height that can easily be reached by the elder from a wheelchair.

The bathroom entrance should be wide enough to give room for a wheelchair to be rolled in. The bathroom floor must not be slippery. Most accidents happen in the bathroom due to slippery flooring. If you are using tiles, see to it that you do not use the ones that are too smooth.

#3 – Create a safe and comfortable bedroom  

Elderly people love security and comfort in a bedroom. You need to ensure that the floor is always free of clutter. You can put a soft rug but be sure it is easy and safe to walk on, or roll a wheelchair over. 

Put the light switch at arm-length from the bed. Remove anything that may cause an elderly to fall. Lights on the hallway from the bedroom of the elderly must be bright so the elderly can clearly see the way.

Put a telephone near the bed for easy access by the elderly. An alarm button would be brilliant. Do not put off the light even if the elderly is asleep. 

It helps when he needs to use the bathroom during the night. You can also put a lamp near the bed, and a footstool below the bed would be useful. 

#4 – Be sure to install appropriate lighting for your home 

It is common knowledge that the older people have poor eyesight. The sharpness of the eyes is continuously deteriorating with age, thus, they require a brighter illumination. 

Lighting in the hallways, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, closets in the elderly room must be enough for the elderly to clearly see his way around. Never turn off the lights in areas where the elder goes to occasionally during the night.

#5 – Smooth the edges of tables and chairs

Be careful to smooth the rough edges of the tables, chairs, kitchen work tables to reduce accidents. Even better is to avoid furniture with sharp edges. Have a chair custom made for the elder in your house. This would allow his easy access of the chair.

Glass furniture must be put away where the elder cannot reach or step on. Likewise, with mirrors and glass items, they should be out of the elder’s path. Sharp objects have to be placed in secure drawers, where he can’t open. 

These are more dangerous when the elder has dementia or Alzheimer’s syndrome. In this particular case, you may need a health care provider to attend to your elderly. Someone in the family could help taking care of him, 24/7. 

#6 – Free the floor from clutter and foot rugs

Avoid using foot rugs on the floor. These are easily moved and may trip the elderly. See to it that your floor is not slippery. If you have kids around, ensure that their toys are not scattered on the floor. 

Let them keep these in their toy baskets. Foot rugs can cause accidents and in most instances are the main causes for an elderly to fall.

#7 – Provide loungers 

Loungers are best for the elderly with health conditions. Some oldies find comfort sleeping on loungers. They can use these as relaxation equipment during the day and beds at night. 

You can place one in the bedroom, so that he can use it during the night or, in the porch for his afternoon nap or siesta.

Elderly people are easily fatigued and exhausted, so you must have somewhere, where he can easily lie down.

#8 – Install heaters and coolers 

You need to be prepared for the changing weather. When the climate gets too warm, or too cold, you must make sure that the temperature in the house is comfortable for the elderly. Frosty cold and extremely hot temperatures would cause discomfort. 

Also, the type of weather can trigger some conditions in older people, such as arthritis, tachycardia and some heart conditions. You can ask the senior citizen directly what temperature makes him most comfortable.

Conclusion

Taking care of the elderly in your family is commendable. Ensure that they could maneuver swiftly and smoothly within your home. Install equipment that would help them stand up, sit down and lay down.It would be awesome if you can integrate these features as you design your home. Respecting your elders by attending to them will surely be appreciated. In the next few years, you will also be in their shoes. If you have shown how elderly should be treated in your home, you children will also see to it that you get the same treatment.

Tags:    home furnishing, making home elder-friendly, real estate condos that are elder friendly