When your parents grow old and need help around the house, sometimes moving in with you is the easiest and safest way. Sure it takes some time and modifications around the house. But nothing that can not be done. Especially if you find professionals to help you with moving, as it can be stressful for older people. After all, they’ve done so much for you, so why wouldn’t you do a little thing for them? Here are some guides on how to adapt your home for an elderly family member.
Make it easy for them
Moving can be tough for everyone, especially for elderly people. The stress of packing and going out of their homes, adjusting to new spaces. So why not make senior moving as easy as possible? If you need help relocating your family member, you can always engage experts. Whether you need help with packing and protecting stuff or just relocating them, these people are there for you. You don’t have to do this alone!
How to adapt your home for an elderly family member?
When moving an older family member into your home, you want to make sure that it’s safe for them. Even the most simple everyday things, that you don’t pay attention to, can be hard for them. When it comes to renovating and adapting, there are some things that you can do yourself, and some, a bit more expensive, that require help from an expert. Here are some things you could/should change:
Floor
- Remove throw rugs, or at least tape them to the floor, so as they don’t move
- Apply nonslip wax to the floors
- Consider replacing tiles, since they can be very slippery
Kitchen
- Put the often used utilities in a place that’s easily reached
- Adjust the counter height and lower the sink (a bit more expensive option, and you’d need help from professionals)
Bathroom
- Some of the cheaper modifications include a bathtub bench or chair, grab bars in the shower and near the toilet seat, non-slip strips, and rubber-backed bathmats
- More expensive options are replacing a bathtub with a walk-in shower for an easier approach
Widen doorways and install ramps
- The most expensive alteration. But, if a person uses a wheelchair, it will be necessary to make these modifications, to ease moving through the house
- One more thing you should consider is creating zero-threshold entries
Other
- Move furniture that could get in the way. You’ll probably need to get rid of some things or move them out for some period. So, if you need help with packing and moving things from your home, you can call the experts from Movage Moving NYC and cut the stress.
- Replace doorknobs with handles
- Lower light switches or put cordless lights (shouldn’t be more than a few dollars)
All of these alterations require money, even the smallest ones. That’s why you could use any help you can get. One of the options that you could look into is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s low-interest loan for home improvements.
Storing things
When you want to adapt your home for an elderly family member moving in, there will probably be a lot of excess things. Yours as much as theirs, since you’ll have to clean some space for them. But don’t worry! You can always rent additional space for household items until you work things out. That way, your family member won’t have to give up his/her things of personal value, and you won’t have to throw anything away.
Make a plan and get going!
Make a plan. Stay organized. Get a moving quote on time. You don’t have to move fast, but efficient. And you’ll adapt your home for an elderly family member in no time. And only knowing that you’re going to help them, should be enough to give you the energy to realize the plan.