When you’re getting ready to care for an aging loved one, the state of your home should be one of the first things you evaluate. Do you have enough room to accommodate a senior or disabled family member? If so, what types of upgrades will make life easier and safer for everyone? You’ve got questions, and answers are found below.
Before You Begin
Start your home upgrade endeavors by evaluating if your home is big enough and can be retrofitted for everything you need. Obviously, you’ll need an extra bedroom, but a second bathroom that’s reserved just for your elderly or disabled loved one will be a huge help. If you don’t have enough room, let Beth Grotelueschen and her team at Keller Williams help you find a home that will accommodate your needs.
Whether you choose to stay in your current home or not, you can also find help making decisions by hiring an architect or home rendering specialist to see what your desired improvements may look like before you invest thousands of dollars. SeniorHomes.com further asserts that you could utilize the skills of a certified aging-in-place specialist to help you choose upgrades that will ensure that your senior family member lives comfortably and as independently as possible.
Smart Home Upgrades
Now, it’s time to think about the types of improvements your home might need. For the most part, think functionality. A few of the most popular — and affordable — changes you can make are as follows:
Wheelchair ramp. Unless you have a no-step entry, a wheelchair ramp is a godsend. Anyone with mobility issues can benefit from the slight incline of a wheelchair ramp compared to steps. According to Costimates, you can expect to spend in the ballpark of $130 per foot installed. This means a 10-foot long wheelchair ramp should set you back approximately $1,300.
Lighting. Different kinds of lighting are appropriate for different situations. If you have someone with visual impairments living in your home, task lighting in the kitchen, bathroom, and other areas will help. You could also add motion-sensor lights to the interior and exterior stairs. Many seniors may feel more comfortable with a constant source of light, and adding a dimmable lighting source will put them in control of exactly how much light they need.
Wood/laminate flooring. Wood flooring is typically considered the best option for people in wheelchairs. Caregiver Aid also lists laminate, vinyl, and ceramic tiles as being wheelchair-friendly. That said, there are some benefits to a low pile carpet, so do your research to decide how to balance your personal style with your loved one’s needs.
No-profile shower. There are so many reasons to have a flat-entry shower. They’re easier to clean and are much safer as you get older. The absence of an obstacle means that your loved one can enter the shower with a wheelchair without fear of tripping over a shower pan or bathtub.
Wider doors and hallways. The vast majority of hallways are about three feet wide. This is not enough for a wheelchair user to comfortably navigate. Although there may be very little you can do about your hallway width without changing the entire footprint of your home, you can widen the doorways throughout the interior, particularly for the bathroom and your disabled loved one’s bedroom. Doing so will allow them to maneuver in and out of the spaces with less difficulty.
Sometimes, buying a new home makes the most sense and you need to accommodate someone with special needs. However, if that is not an option, there are plenty of upgrades you can make that will have a positive impact on all concerned. Make sure that you get expert help so that you do not make changes that have little effect on everyone’s quality of life.
