Many family members mistakenly believe they don’t need to prepare for a loved one needing assistance. In reality, they do. Creating a home environment that is friendly and accommodating for a loved one can have a lasting positive lifetime for both them and you, the caregiver. Despite having a ready home, my loved one was unable to enjoy the space, so I had to make some changes. Below are home modifications you can make to the environment of a loved one in need due to the multitude of disabilities (power chair, wheelchair, visual impairments, etc).
1. Create a Safe and Accessible Entrance
- Pamphlet A: If stairs are present at entry, consider installing a wheelchair ramp. The ramp must have a gentle slope and be made of sturdy material (The last sentence of Pamphlet A is summarised in Pamphlet B.) The ramp must also have handrails on both sides and meet local building codes.
- Automatic Door Openers: Install automatic door openers for easier entry and exit if it’s difficult to operate doors manually.
- Outside Paths: Ensure outside paths are flat, well-lit, and clutter-free so that you don’t trip over anything.
2. Optimize Interior Space
- Open Paths: Move furniture and other objects to create wide open paths. No obstructions or choke points should exist that may block the clear path of a person using a wheelchair or walker.
- Adjustable Furniture: Use adjustable-height furniture to allow others to better fit their needs. For example, adjustable tables or desks can help people better fit when eating or working.
- Movable Obstacles: Move or adjust low pieces of furniture or decorations that are in the path or that can get in the way.
3. Enhance Bathroom Accessibility
- Grab Bars: Install grab bars in the shower, bathtub, and near the toilet. Make sure they are bolted securely, and rated for weight-bearing.
- Bathtubs to a walk-in shower or bathtub with door – replace old-fashioned bathtubs with walk-in showers where possible – or with convertible bathtubs or tubs with a door for easy access. Conversion to a shower seat or shower bench – adding an easily accessible seat or bench in the shower are worthwhile adjustment.
- Elevated Toilet Seat: Use an elevated toilet seat so it will be easier to sit down and get back up. The seat should be secure on the toilet and comfortable.
- Non-slip FlooringIn general, using non-slip flooring in your bathroom will help to avoid any accidental slips and falls when the surface of the floor is inevitably wet.
4. Modify Kitchen Features
- Accessible countertops: Lower some countertops or install adjustable height counters to make food prep and cooking easier.
- Under-Cabinet Storage: Store smaller items within in-cabinet pull-out shelves or drawers so you no longer need to reach – or bend – to take items out.
- Lever-Style Faucets: Add lever-style faucets to your kitchen and bathroom so that they can more easily be operated by anyone who lacks finger grip strength.
- Appliances: Within Arm’s Reach: Put the microwave and toaster at a level you can reach without stretching or bending.
5. Improve Lighting and Visibility
Use LED bulbs to maintain bright, even lighting throughout all of your home’s rooms. Eliminate Shadows: Eliminating shadows can enhance visibility and make your home feel more spacious. Think about adding more light fixtures to remove shadow areas from your rooms.
- Motion-Sensor lights: Add motion-sensor lights in hallways, bathrooms, and stairs to illuminate automatically when someone enters the room.
- Contrast and Colour: Contrasting colors, such as white for a walkway/hallway and blue for a washroom, can assist a person with a disability who relies on subtle variations to delineate the space.
6. Adapt Bedroom and Sleeping Areas
- Adjustable Bed: An adjustable bed can be raised and lowered to help you sit up or lie flat.
- Essentials Within Reach: Put the telephone and reading materials on your bedside table so that you don’t have to reach far out of bed. Use bedside tables with drawers or shelves so that you don’t have to get up to put things away.
- Easy Storage: Design closet and drawer spaces where you don’t have to bend or reach: pull-down racks or lazy Susans are a good option in closets.
7. Install Assistive Technology
Voice-Activated Controls: Have smart home devices for lighting, thermostats, and other electronics operate by voice, especially if mobility or dexterity is a problem.
Medical Alert Systems: Install a medical alert system that can call for help when the wearer has an emergency – and then connect them to a response center.
Remote Controls, Use remote controls to operate different home appliances such as curtains, lights, and door locks so that they are easier to use.
8. Ensure Effective Communication
- Accessible Phones and Devices: Provide phones and devices with big buttons, screens, or voice activation for people who are blind or who have a lack of dexterity.
- Communication Aids: If required, you might want to use text-to-speech devices or hearing amplifiers to help facilitate communication with others.
- Alert systems: Install visual or vibrating alerts for doorbells, alarms, and other incoming signals, so your loved one can always hear when something is going on.
9. Plan for Emergency Situations
- Emergency Contacts: Keep a list of emergency contacts and medical information readily available so family members and caregivers can easily access it when needed.
- Procedures for Emergencies: Develop clear procedures for handling different types of emergencies, including evacuation plans, and make sure everyone in the household understands them.
- Exits: Clearly mark pedestrian exits and keep them free of obstacles to ensure all occupants can exit quickly and safely during an emergency.
10. Consult with Professionals
- Occupational Therapists: Work with an occupational therapist, who will help to assess your home and make recommendations for environmental modifications that will fit your loved one’s needs. www.spotlightonaging.com
- Home Modification Specialists: Contact home modification specialists who have experience in home modifications and adapting living spaces for different needs and can assist with designing and implementing any home modifications.
- Building Codes and Restrictions: Check local building codes and restrictions to make sure that everything you do on your deck is allowed.
Making modifications to your home for an elderly family member or someone with a disability means making smart adjustments to better support their comfort, safety and independence. By concentrating on practical alterations – such as accessibility, space, and the use of assistive technology – home modifications can create a more welcoming, more adaptable living space.
Experts can carefully design and guide deep remodeling projects to meet seniors’ needs while staying within building code and safety guidelines. Hopefully, these few home improvement suggestions will help you make a comfortable, practical, and even beautiful home that continues to help improve your loved one’s quality of life.
