How to Make Your Home Safe for Ageing Parents: A Room-by-Room Guide

Home safety for seniors is crucial in accident prevention – from falls to inconvenience around the house. The living space should consider the specific needs of seniors, with safety as an utmost priority. By making these changes to your living spaces, it can reduce the risk of falls, improve accessibility and promote independence amongst our loved ones. 

Here is a guide on how you can make your home environment safe and comfortable for your loved ones. 

Entrance to your home should be accessible

This starts from the point of entering the house – the entrance should be accessible, convenient and safe. Here are some considerations to keep in mind:

Safety considerations:

• Clear walkways: Ensure that the walkway leading up to your home is clutter free and rid of objects that can potentially cause one to trip or knock against. Ensuring that the walkway is well-lit is also important and LED type motion sensors are a crowd favourite now for nighttime visibility 
• Wheelchair accessible ramps: For those with mobility issues, wheelchair accessible ramps promote independence, allowing one to enter the house independently
• Doormats: When selecting a doormat, avoid bulky doormats to reduce the chances of tripping when entering or leaving the house

Living room – a safe abode

This is where your loved ones would likely be spending most of their time – it should be safe and comfortable.

Safety considerations:

• Seating: Choose chairs and couches that provide adequate support and are not too low or high for easy sitting and standing. Consider getting back support cushions that improves posture and are more comfortable
• Clutter-free environment: Ensure the floor is clear of furniture, rugs, and cables that could be potential fall hazards
• Flooring: If you’re worried about slips and falls, consider adding non-slip rugs or grip pads

Bedroom – a safe space of rest

The bedroom is where one rests, comfort and safety are of utmost priority. 

Safety considerations:

• Nightstands & lighting: Keep essential items (like a phone, water, or medications) on the nightstand within easy reach. Add motion-activated nightlights along the path to the bathroom or hallway
• Clothing storage: Avoid storing the clothes in a space that requires one to bend or reach far in. Hanging wardrobe organisers is an option to ensure that clothing and accessories are easily accessible
• Mobility aids: If your loved ones use walkers, canes, or other mobility aids, ensure that the space in the room is clear of obstacles so they can move around freely

Bathroom safety

The bathroom is where a lot of slips and falls occur as the floor is usually wet and slippery. How can we make this safer for our loved ones?

Safety considerations:

• Shower grab bars: Install grab bars inside and outside the shower to help your loved ones maintain balance when entering or exiting
• Shower chair: A shower chair would come in handy if your loved ones experience difficulty standing for prolonged periods of time. A shower chair which allows them to sit while bathing reduces dizziness and risk of falls
• Raised toilet seat: Install a raised toilet seat for easier sitting and standing. Add grab bars near the toilet for additional support and peace of mind

Conclusion

Creating a safe and comfortable home for your loved ones is not easy and certainly not something that can be done overnight. This process of changing and adapting would look different for every individual and it takes patience through experimentation. Do this gradually, make small adjustments and seek feedback from your loved ones on how they are adapting to it.