You’ve decided you’re letting your aging mom stay with you while she recovers from a broken hip. Now, you find the need to adjust your house to cater to her needs. For one, you want to make sure her bedroom has close access to the bathroom.
Here are things to consider when you take in your aging parents to your home.
Room choice
Consider your parents’ physical capabilities when assigning them a room. If they can’t walk properly anymore, give them a room on the first floor. If they have urinary problems, give them the room closest to the bathroom.
Your room should be close to theirs. This way, they can call you easily when they need anything. Kids’ rooms should also be far from theirs. Noise might cause irritation and stress to your parents.
Adjust for those with limited mobility
Decreased mobility, diminished eyesight and oncoming deafness can make the most comfortable home conducive to accidents and injuries. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) reported one in every three seniors over 65 years suffer from a fall each year.
Simple remodeling in your house makes a lot of difference in safety, convenience and comfort.
Here are a few adjustments you may want to follow:
- Install handrails on hallways or stairs
- Install a stair lift
- Install ramps on other elevated areas to accommodate wheelchairs
- Install toilet safety rails and grab bars in your bathroom
- Equip your stars with non-slip strips
- Get rid of potential tripping hazards like low coffee tables and footstools
According to the National Association of Home Builders, your living room should ideally have a five-foot by five-foot clear space in the middle to accommodate wheelchairs, crutches and walkers.
Video surveillance system
One effect of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia is messing with people’s directions. If left unnoticed, your parents may wander off and get lost.
You can install surveillance cameras in their room. You can also place cameras near the door, stairs and the gate. Get your house a surveillance system that will provide the widest range of view possible. If audio is an important feature for you, set up cameras that can record sound. Just recently, PC Mag released a list of the best indoor security cameras you can purchase.
Hire a professional home caregiver
If you are not yet ready to place your parent in a nursing home, you can try home care services. You can seek assistance from home care workers, like the ones from Serenityhomehealth.com. According to Genworth’s Cost of Care Study, the median household income for older adults in 2019 was $43,696. It costs an average of $35,880 for 30 hours of home care a week. This is lower than the median cost of a private room in a nursing home ($102,204) and assisted living ($48,612).
Move their furniture to your home
Make their transition as seamless as possible. Updating your house’s interior to feature some of their furniture or artwork eases them into the new environment. This will also help them maintain their everyday routines even after switching houses.
Living with aging parents could be challenging but very rewarding. Redesigning your house for somebody you love will make the transition easier. Keep these tips in mind so your house will be ready when your aging parents move in.
