If you’re planning to live in
your home in older age instead of thinking about alternative living
accommodation, it probably won’t be surprising that you will have to make a few
changes to ensure that your home is as comfortable as it was when you were
younger. Here’s a room-by-room guide about what you can change to make your
home suitable for every age.
The outside of your home should
have a clearly visible address number, a doorway threshold that won’t trip you
up, and handrails on any steps and stairways.
The Kitchen
The kitchen should have
easy-to-access cabinetry that is simple to pull out. There should be specific
lighting for the sink, cooker, and any food preparation areas. The kitchen sink
tap should also be sensor-based or lever-based, and you should avoid knobs or
handles. The tap should also be pressure-balanced and not exceed temperatures
of 50 degrees. The floor should not be polished with a slippery wax.
Steps and Stairways
You should have safe and secure
handrails on both sides of the stairs, placed at an appropriate height for the
intended users. It’s also important to be able to turn the stairway lights on
and off at both the bottom and top of the stairs. Stairs should be carpeted or
have a nonslip adhesive strip on them. The edge of the stairs should be marked
clearly.
The Bathroom
The lavatory should be a higher,
comfort-height model to allow for easy sitting. The sink, bathtub and shower
taps should have easy-to-use lever handles rather than knobs. The bathroom
walls should be reinforced and feature grab bars in the bathtub, shower and
near the lavatory to allow for easy leverage. Rugs in the bathroom should be
rubber-backed so they don’t slip. Ideally, the shower or bath should be walk-in
and should have the accessibility options seen with the latest models for walk in showers. These include no-step entry, a hand-held or adjustable showerhead, and a permanent or removable seat so you can bathe while seated. Any exposed
pipes should be insulated.
Living Room and Bedroom
Furniture should be arranged to
allow clear and wide passageways, and electrical cords and wires should run
along the wall to prevent tripping. The bed should be placed close to the
bathroom for easy access, and natural light should be used to the fullest.
Closets should have interior lights and adjustable shelves.
Throughout the Home
Light bulbs should be properly
rated and be the highest allowed wattage for maximum light. The home should
have touch control lamps as well as devices on a timer to minimize the need for
switching on lights. A telephone should be available in multiple rooms,
including the bedroom and bathroom.
Night lights can be good as well — put
automatic night lights in hallways, bathrooms and also near any steps. Smoke
detectors should be installed on every floor and should be tested properly so
that they can be heard in all bedrooms. Flashlights should be kept in many
rooms just in case there’s a power failure, and there should be at least one
step-free entrance into the home.
There’s a lot of detail above,
but if you follow this room-by-room guide you’ll have a fully accessible home
in no time!
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