5 Home Remodeling Tips For Elderly Parents

Victoria Lim - 1 Nov 17

Taking care of your aging parents is a noble effort, and letting them live with you is even better. Of
course, there are some seniors who prefer to have their own home, in which case you should visit and
help them as frequently as possible. Regardless of their residence, your job is to make the place safer
and cozier, so your folks could enjoy their retirement. There are plenty of ways for remodeling the house
they live in, and some of them are described in the text in front of you.

Take care of lighting

Before you do anything else, make sure the house is well lit so your aging parents can see where they’re
going. Most of the seniors have bad vision, so placing some extra nightlights in the bedroom, hallways
and bathroom will keep them safe. Continue with the installation of lamps wherever your parents need
them. Add one next to their reading chair, in kitchen or closet. Make sure all switches are easy to reach,
so your folks can adjust the light when you’re not at home.

Remodel the bathroom

You should take some precautionary measures while your folks are using the bathroom. In order to
prevent life treating injuries, go ahead and make sure the shower entry is step-free. Continue with
installing a retractable bench in it, so your parents can sit while showering. That simple addition will keep
them safe and comfortable. In order to make things much more safer and easier, invest in a few grab
bars and set them up as soon as possible.

Avoid stairs

It would be great if your mom or dad doesn’t have to climb any stairs at their residence. Think about this
issue before buying them a house, or taking them at your place. Of course, most houses have stairs, so
you’ll probably need to make some corrections. First of all, make sure bedroom and bathroom are on the
same floor, preferably on the first one. In addition, you may consider investing in stair lift, or any other
machine designed for aged care. Before you buy anything, speak to your parents and see what they
need the most.

Expand doors and halls

In case your elderly parent uses wheelchair in order to move, make sure the house is designed the right
way. First of all, you’ll need to work on halls and doors and make them wider. It would be great to make
doorways at least 34 inches wide, and hallways 42 inches wide, or even wider. If your budget allows you
this type of remodeling, do it regardless of your parents’ current needs. There’s a great chance you’ll
need it in the future, so go ahead and get prepared. At the end, get rid of all tripping hazards so your
parents can move freely.

Safer entry

If your folks have trouble walking, redesigning the interior will be just the first step. You’ll need to take
care of the exterior as well by building a ramp or a wraparound deck which will facilitate entering and
exiting the house. Again, it would be desirable to talk with your parents in the first place and hear them
out. They know what are their most important needs, and you should give your best to meet them.

Final thoughts

Once you took care of all safety precautions and adjustments, you can take a rest and drink a cup of tea
with your aging parents. They do need these house improvements, but they need your company even
more. Make sure to spend some time with them on regular basis, and engage in a conversation. One of
the main issues seniors can stumble upon is most certainly loneliness, so don’t allow it to happen to your
loving mom and dad. Hear them out, let them know about your feelings, fears, and troubles, so they can
feel needed, and maybe help you with a piece of advice.

Victoria Lim

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