No-one wants to get old, but sadly it is something that happens to us all at some point.
As parents and loved ones age, it may be necessary to make some changes around their house to help them lead an independent, happy and healthy life for as long as possible.
Possibly one of the most common issues to consider in the ageing process is limited mobility and there are several simple ways you can update the home to ensure everyone’s comfort and security.
Update the Bathroom
Updating the bathroom is one of the most important areas to concentrate on for older adults, to help them use the bathroom effectively and safely.
Walk-in baths and / or walk-in showers are popular bathroom choices for those who want to make showering and bathing simpler and installing a shower-head that you can detach and hold in your hand makes bathing really easy.
Other things to consider are raising the height of the toilet and adding grab bars or rails in the shower, bathtub and near the loo to make bathing and using the toilet easier not only for the elderly person, but for any caregiver as well.
Update the Kitchen
We all use our kitchens differently, so it is important to think about how your relative uses their kitchen and what would make life easier for them.
Are the fridge and the oven within easy reach? Bending down to them may be more tricky as they get older, so consider using integrated appliances that don’t sit on the floor, or use shelves that are easier for them to reach into.
A perching stool which supports them in a near-standing position may help them cook or make a hot drink, whilst a kettle tipper will help them tilt the kettle.
Also, you can upgrade your kitchen effortlessly by swapping out the outdated backsplash with vibrant acrylic sheeting. This groutless alternative ensures hassle-free cleaning and improved hygiene, which is convenient for older adults and caregivers. Exploring this option helps elevate the kitchen’s aesthetics while combining style and functionality. Aside from a contemporary touch, incorporating such upgrades into your kitchen will help you and your older relatives enjoy waterproof qualities and longevity that surpass traditional backsplashes. You can also replace any glass areas in the kitchen with options like clear perspex from Cut Plastic Sheeting to reduce the likelihood of injury for your elderly relatives, save money, get a straight and accurate cut, and top-notch professional finishing.
Getting in and out of your home
A hand rail or ramp could help if there are steps up to your front door and add an outdoor sensor light to the outside of your home, which will not only help with household security, but will help them make their way inside when it’s dark.
Stairs
An extra banister rail or a stairlift can make getting up and down the stairs easier.
Replace dangerous flooring
If your older family member has balance issues or drags their feet, steps may become more hazardous and flooring such as tiles can become slippery, especially when wet.
Consider low pile carpets or lino when making flooring choices as they can be warmer underfoot and offer more grip when walking.
Use technology to make things easier
Smart technology allows you to control various features in your home without putting yourself at risk.
Smart technology devices include: light bulbs, plugs, doorbells, security systems, thermostats and even some appliances. The gadgets are easily connected using a wi-fi network and can then be controlled using an app on a mobile phone or even by voice command if you have an Amazon Echo or Google Home Device.
Having a smart technology device set up means that you can adjust the temperature of your home without getting up, switch your lights off from your bed, meaning you don’t need to get up in the dark and risk falling and even close the curtains or pull down the blinds. You can even call your loved ones using them too!!
Discliamer: Post written in paid partnership with Premier Care in Bathing
The bathroom handles and the stair lift are both great ideas. With those, the elderly can stay in their homes and remain independent for much longer.
Love this! It’s so thoughtful. We were going to do the banister lift for my grandma as her legs got really bad but we didn’t get the chance to install it before she passed away.
This post is very thoughtful and considerate. Many of these things we do not think of until we have to. Nice to already have some of these suggestions already
These are wonderful tips and installments. A perching stool in the kitchen is such a helpful idea.
A very thoughtful post.
This will be very helpful for a friend of mine, who is dealing with a tricky situation at the moment.
We are having to do this right now for our grandma. Updating her house is really helping her stay more independent even though her mobility is getting more limited.
As our elders getting older their houses can become difficult for them especially the bathroom so some great suggestions here!
I think updating the kitchen and bathroom are so key. This has so many great pieces of advice.
It’s amazing the what technology can do. I think these are great ideas for renovating a home for elderly relatives.
This is really good and helpful. It is surely gonna help my maternal relatives.
These are all great ideas and very practical. Sadly, we are getting to a point in our lives when we need to think about adapting our house for our age.
These are all great ideas! We just got my grandparents an Alexa and have been teaching them to be updated on the latest technology!
We renovated our kitchen a few years ago and just completed the downstairs bath! My next project will be the upstairs bathrooms and then the stairwell.
Great advice. I remember when my nan got a stair lift installed and it made such a difference to her!
These are some interesting suggestions – I definitely agree that bathroom renovations are paramount when it comes to elderly relatives. A stairlift is also very important too.
Great tips here…I know some people who would really appreciate this post… Will be sharing with them.
These are such helpful tips and an insight into how the elderly live. My husband’s nanny has recently had to have her bathroom adapted and it makes her life so much easier 🙂
What a wonderful post! My parents did renovations to their home as they needed. It was awesome for them.
This sis such a great post. It is important that our home is very accessible and there are easy to use features especially if we have elders.
Replacing dangerous flooring would definitely come in handy. Love that you shared these tips.
Just did this! My 90-year-old dad loves his chair lift. He even uses it when his elderly friends come over!
The stair lift is very useful. Good to update parts of the house to make them easier to use.
I have a few elderly relatives who had a stair lift fitted, and they were so grateful because it meant they could travel up and downstairs safely without having to move their bed downstairs or go into a home. They really are a great invention 🙂
Louise x
These are such great suggestions! My mom is retired and she suffers from arthritis and rheumatism, so her mobility has greatly decreased. We have installed an elevator in her house, replace the bathtub with a walking shower, but many of the other suggestions seem like great ideas for her!
Realy great post, thanks for sharing these helpful tips for home renovation. You have mention points like updating the bathroom, kitchen, flooring that’s great.
But I would like to suggest some additional points like refurbish your door, windows, upgrade brickwork that will be helpful for improving the value of the home which I found in the following article: (Here is the link: https://castlepointconstruction.co.uk/blog/25-ways-to-increase-the-value-of-your-home-using-home-alterations/)
Thank you for breaking this down so well. You’ve pointed out the most important things in home renovation like updating the kitchen, updating the bathroom, replacing dangerous flooring. I also found some additional points like replacing a garage door, upgrade front doors etc. in the following article (https://rollawaygaragedoors.co.uk/home-improvements-add-value-home/)
This is such a helpful post for people who have the elderly staying with them.
Little things matter a lot. Like the grab handles in the bathroom, doing away with centre tables and rugs. You never know what can cause an accident!
These are really some very useful and helpful tips. It’s very important to take care of the elderly relatives.As our elders getting older their houses can become difficult for them especially the bathroom so some great suggestions here!
Thanks for the post! How much does it cost to completely renovate a house?
These are great tips. My mum has just sold her house and she said the worst part by far was having to keep the house ready for a last minute viewing. I must get some bathroom wipes
Assisted living is usually the first step in a senior’s long-term care plan, whereafter respite care may become necessary.
A trained renovation contractor won’t just get the job done fast – they’ll also do it safely. This is especially important if your remodeling plan includes electrical or structural work.