Home improvements for the elderly help many people remain in their homes as they age.

Plenty of us buy properties that will be ‘forever homes’, and the idea of moving out of it can be emotional and upsetting. But houses bought years, or even decades ago, don’t always meet the growing needs of an ageing occupant. 

Fortunately, there’s a lot that can be done to adapt a home to make it safe and comfortable for elderly individuals.

The Challenges of Ageing

If we are lucky enough to live into our old age, most of us will experience some, if not all, of the common issues associated with getting older. 

Mobility And Balance

Flexibility, coordination, and balance can all start to deteriorate as an individual gets older. 

This can make walking around and performing daily tasks difficult.

Decreased Strength And Dexterity

As people age, their muscle strength often declines. This can affect an individual’s ability to move around the home safely and operate household objects.

Vision And Hearing Loss

As we age, we begin to lose our sight and hearing. Impaired vision and difficulty hearing can increase the risk of accidents, make communication more difficult and compromise safety because hazards cannot be seen or heard effectively.

Memory (cognitive function)

Memory loss can interfere with an elderly person’s independence and present safety concerns. Problems with memory can present challenges with remembering appointments and medication, as well as safety when cooking, locking doors, and remembering where to find items in the home. 

Brittle Bones

Did you know that you start losing bone from around 35 years of age?

Osteoporosis is common in older people, and that means it’s more likely that individuals will suffer serious injury due to brittle bones. 

Hypertension

The likelihood of developing high blood pressure rises as people get older. Hypertension, or abnormally high blood pressure, can cause dizziness and put individuals at risk of falls. 

Home Improvements For The Elderly: Preventing Falls

The home is the most common place for a fall to happen. Falls and incidents don’t just put the individual at risk of injury, they also affect confidence and quality of life. 

Making the right home improvements for the elderly can significantly reduce the risk of falls. These measures can be actioned all over the home, and they include;

Grab Rails

Grab rails provide support when standing for long periods, or if standing at all, is challenging.

Ramps

Steps can be difficult to manage for elderly people. Whether they use a wheelchair or walker or not, accessibility ramps can make it easier to enter and exit the home.

Handrails

Installing a handrail on either side of the stairs gives ageing individuals something to hold onto, aiding balance and mobility when moving between floors.

When stairs become too dangerous, a stair lift can be installed to transport the user between floors of the property. 

Wider Doorways 

Wider doorways provide enough room for walkers and wheelchairs to comfortably fit through. This is a must for many homes. 

Non-Slip Flooring

When you’re unsteady on your feet, uneven or slippery flooring like tiles can present a huge risk of slips, trips, and falls. 

Lighting

Fitting proper lighting that illuminates the room well, as well as considering spotlights for areas that require concentration, like worktops, can help to increase safety around the home. Think about getting smart or motion sensor lighting that switches on automatically for further convenience.

Home Improvements For The Elderly: The Bathroom

Maintaining personal care is important for dignity and confidence, but the bathroom presents a high risk of serious slips. 

 Bathing

For safer bathing, many older people switch from a bath to a shower because stepping into and out of a bath requires a lot of movement. Not only do showers make washing easier, but it’s also more convenient when assistance is needed.

Traditional showers, however, can be another hazard. Accessible showers that sit flush with the floor or a wet room are safe solutions that many of our elderly customers are opting for. Wet rooms also add kerb appeal and can look stylish in a home. 

Shower Seat

Adding a shower seat gives elderly people somewhere to perch if standing is too tiring or uncomfortable when washing.

Removable Shower Head

A shower head that can be unhooked and used by hand can be helpful for elderly users and anyone who helps to care for them.

Grab Rails

Installing grab rails next to toilets, sinks, and in the shower offers support and safety during tasks that require standing. 

Raised Height Toilets

Raised height toilets that sit higher than usual therefore putting less strain on the body. Toilet aids, such as seat risers or toilet seat frames, help elderly individuals maintain privacy and independence whilst toileting. 

Accessible Sink

Accessible sinks tend to be shallower than your average sink and have room underneath for wheelchair users to position their legs. 

Lighting

Inadequate lighting can cause falls in the bathroom. Efficient lighting, bright colours, and even LED strips to highlight bathroom landmarks like sinks and toilets can increase safety in the room. 

Home Improvements For The Elderly: The Kitchen

Like the bathroom, independence in the kitchen does wonders for self-esteem, but only if someone feels safe.

Worktops

Countertops can be tiring to stand at whilst performing tasks. Consider these changes to solve this problem;

• Rise-and-fall worktops can be adjusted to the right height for the individual using them.
• Lowering a worktop section and adding a chair.
• Placing a perching stool next to a regular worktop so that the user can sit comfortably in a higher position to execute kitchen tasks safely. 

Storage

Pull-out drawers and shelves are your best bet for easy-reach groceries, cooking equipment, crockery, and other kitchen items. Use lower cabinets for frequently used items or make space on the countertops to save bending. Open shelves make locating items simple (and look stylish, too!). 

Appliances

Wall-mounted ovens and microwaves reduce reaching and stretching, which can cause pain and discomfort. 

Kitchen Aids

Things like kettle tippers and automatic can openers will work wonders regarding problems with small tasks and manual dexterity. 

Easy-To-Grip Handles And Taps

Changing regular cupboard handles and sink taps to accessible replacements might not seem high on the list of home improvements for the elderly, but they can heavily increase independence in the kitchen.

Kitchen Trolley

A wheelable trolley can be useful for placing food and drink rather than carrying items from one room to another. 

Home Improvements For The Elderly: Outside

Gardens and outside space are important, too, and there are plenty of changes that can make these areas more accessible. Here are a few of our favourites.

Raised Planters

Raised beds are an excellent option for eliminating excessive physical effort during gardening and recreation. Sitting high off the ground, raised planters reduce the need for bending or kneeling, which can be difficult for elderly individuals with mobility issues.

Level Pathways

Uneven pathways are a huge trip hazard for elderly users. Ensuring pathways are even and free of debris is crucial to prevent falls outdoors.

Good Lighting 

Install sensor lighting for external doors and illuminate paths for safety in getting around the garden throughout the day. 

Home Improvements For The Elderly Futureproof Your Property

There are so many benefits of home improvements for the elderly, including increased safety and independence and peace of mind for friends and family. 

Proactive action makes a house as safe as possible as someone ages and takes the future into account too, meaning less disruption later on. Working with experienced, trusted professionals (just like us!) is key to making sure works are completed to a high standard and will keep users as safe as possible. 

Looking for more ways to improve home accessibility for the elderly? Read our brilliant blog on smart home tech for the elderly.