You’re getting older. Some people your age are starting to enter assisted living facilities. But you don’t want to do that; you want to age in place.
The question is: how can you make it work? There are several things you can do to make the process simpler. So, without further ado, here are 8 tips for seniors aging in place.
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Limit the Use of Rugs
As you get older, you have more and more trouble lifting your feet while walking. This results in an increase in trips and falls. And when you’re aging, a fall can be a serious incident.
As such, you need to do what you can to make your home trip-proof. One method is to limit the use of rugs. Rugs may only create slight elevation, but that elevation is enough to lead to a stumble.
At the very least, you should make sure that your rugs are fastened to the ground. After all, an unfastened rug could slip out from under you. This could, of course, also lead to a fall.
Install Bars in Your Bathrooms
As you get older, using the bathroom becomes more and more difficult. Standing up from the toilet and maintaining your footing while in the shower can be legitimate challenges.
But there is something you can do to help yourself. Namely, you can install bars on the walls. This way, you can grab those bars as a means of support.
Need help installing bars in your bathrooms? An ADU builder — like this San Jose ADU builder — can assist you.
Ramp Up
Steps can be difficult for aging individuals to navigate. In fact, they’re one of the most common residential tripping hazards in existence. For this reason, if you’re aging in place, you should swap out all steps in favor of ramps.
A ramp will offer a nice, slow decline, allowing you to move from place to place without having to pick your feet up. This will greatly reduce your risk of tripping.
Now, you might be wondering: what should you do if you have a two-story house? Is it even possible to replace those steps with a ramp? Not typically.
Instead, it might be a good idea to move your possessions to the lower level. That way, you can completely negate the use of the steps.
Take Advantage of Anti-slip Strips
Do you have hardwood or linoleum, or vinyl floors? If so, they could very easily become a slipping hazard. This is particularly true if they get wet.
As such, in order to combat slipping and tripping on your floors, you should apply anti-slip strips. These are long, narrow adhesives that stick to the floor and which possess rough exteriors. They provide traction, helping individuals to keep their footing.
You can find sets of these strips online for $50 to $150. Though they might not be the most attractive entities, they can help to keep you healthy as you age.
Make Sure There Are Light Switches at the Entrances of All Rooms
As you age, you’re going to have a harder and harder time keeping your balance. Odds are, you won’t be able to catch yourself when you stumble. So, if you were to, say, step into a dark room and make contact with a shoe, you could easily fall over and incur a serious injury.
For this reason, you’re advised to install light switches at every entrance of every room. This way, you can easily flip on the lights before entering. A well-lit room is much easier to navigate and will greatly reduce the risk of injury.
Increase Your Lighting Options
Not only do you want to make your lights more accessible, but you also want to have more light at your disposal. After all, you’re getting older, and as you get older, your eyesight is bound to become impaired. That extra bit of light can make all the difference in the world.
So, don’t just make use of the chandelier in the kitchen. Place a floor lamp in the corner as well. Consider installing recessed lights underneath the cabinets and drawers as well.
The brighter you can make your living environment, the better off you’ll be. So, get creative and enhance your illumination capabilities.
Keep Your Cell Phone Handy
You can do everything in the world to reduce your risk of tripping. But that doesn’t mean you won’t trip. You might, and if you do, you want to make sure that you’re able to reach for help.
For this reason, you need to keep your cell phone handy. That way, you can dial 911 or call someone close to you in the event of an incident.
Another option is to buy a voice-controlled device like an Amazon Echo or Google Home. These devices act on voice commands and have the capability to make phone calls. Having one of these in your home ensures that you’re always able to make a call, regardless of whether or not you have your phone with you.
Have a Regular Caretaker
You don’t need to go to an assisting living facility in order to receive assistance. You could have someone come to you instead.
The first option is to have a friend or relative check in on you. If that’s not a possibility, think about hiring an in-home nurse.
Regardless, make sure someone can check in on you regularly. You never know when you might get injured. Having someone stop by could save your life.
Aging in Place Could Be a Possibility for You
Aging in place isn’t a possibility for everyone, but it could be a possibility for you. Use the tips above and see if you can make do. If not, you could always fall back on an assisted living center.
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