Aging Gracefully At Home: Essential Home Modifications For Seniors With Silver Sitters

At Silver Sitters, we understand that the majority of aging adults share a heartfelt desire to live at home. However, the challenges of aging can sometimes make this goal seem out of reach. Fortunately, there are simple, cost-effective ways to make staying at home a more viable option for you or your loved ones.

The Importance of Home Safety

One of the key focuses of aging in place is eliminating falling hazards. Falls are the leading cause of injury for older adults, sending millions of people aged 65 and over to emergency rooms each year.

The Desire to Age in Place

The majority of older adults express a desire to stay in their homes as they age. This is often where they’ve spent their lives and where they feel most comfortable. With a little planning and some simple modifications, it’s often possible to make this a reality. Here are the modifications to make for seniors. 

Bathroom Modifications for Aging in Place

Bathrooms can be particularly hazardous for older adults. Simple tasks that once didn’t warrant a second thought can suddenly become a challenge as we age. Installing grab bars can provide a stable hold while getting up off the toilet or stepping in and out of the tub. Other easy, low-cost ways to create a safer bathroom include adding non-slip mats or stickers to your shower floor, using a transfer bench for tub access, using a showering chair to prevent falls and installing raised toilet seats.

Another good idea to minimize reaching up is adding eye level shelves in the bathroom to enable seniors easy access to lotions, toothbrushes and other essentials. 

Lighting Adjustments for Better Visibility

As we age, our vision can become cloudier. Updating your home’s lighting can create brighter rooms that are easier to navigate. Night lights are also great for guiding seniors during any midnight hour walks through a dark home. Also add lights to the stairways as well to make sure that seniors don’t fall from the stairs. 

Use Technology to assist seniors 

New technological innovations can help older adults live at home longer while offering peace of mind. Smart technology can be used to deliver daily reminders, disperse medication at fixed times, track movement, turn off gas after cooking and activity in the house, and send emergency alerts. 

Additional Home Safety Tips for Aging in Place

Other tips for making a home a safe long-term living option for older adults include removing rugs, clearing walkways and items from the stairs that could cause a stumble, keeping often-used items on easy-to-reach shelves, and using bold, bright colors in high-traffic areas of the home to provide better contrast for fading vision.

At Silver Sitters, we recommend making these changes before aging demands it as it is never too late to create a safe environment.