As our loved ones age it’s normal for their homes to need safety additions. These new additions will help your parents or grandparents stay in their beloved homes while reducing the risk of slip-and-fall accidents. Knowing these simple additions are in the home will also give you peace of mind knowing your loved one has increased safety and stability while moving about.

Sometimes your loved one may be resistant to these new additions as they can be a visual reminder that one is getting older. If this is the case then it’s important to have a conversation with your family member letting him or her know that this is one way to remain in an independent living environment and you only care about his or her safety.

Here are some home safety additions for seniors you might consider:

Have Grab Bars Installed

Aging comes with the expected gradual decline in physical strength, coordination, and cognitive functions to mention a few. Grab bars are an easy home addition that is perfect for people who’d love to age in place; an ideal situation for most seniors.

Grab bars are installed on wall surfaces and help elderly citizens retain some level of independence as far as mobility is concerned. Grab bars allow senior citizens the added benefit of safety while they carry out regular activities of daily living.

They are commonly installed in showers, besides toilet seats, staircases, and by the bedside. By allowing seniors to grab hold of something steady as they transition between sitting to standing and walking, their safety is assured especially on slippery surfaces. Overall, you’ll have peace of mind knowing you or your loved ones can continue to perform routine activities even in your twilight years, safely.

Declutter

Decluttering helps reduce the risk of tripping, falling, and related injuries that tend to get worse as you age. Some items can go into storage, some can be shared with family members, and some may be parted with through donations.

Make sure your loved one is involved in the sorting and decluttering process so that he or she doesn’t feel like you’re getting rid of important items. There may be trinkets with strong sentimental value that you aren’t aware of, so it’s important your loved one is involved.

Invest in New Flooring material and Carpets.

Your floors will over time become a slipping hazard and might need you to replace the flooring material. Get rid of the older throw rugs and get newer textured carpets to improve traction. Perhaps you’d want to remodel your bathroom and toilet layouts ahead of time? Find the best, most comfortable layout to maneuver about and have the floors redone.

Get Better Lighting

Over time our visual sight becomes impaired with age. That means that in some years, there’s a fair chance you or your loved ones could injure themselves due to lighting issues.

Additions you might want to consider include:

• Relocating light switches to positions that are easier to access.
• Installing switches at the top and bottom of staircases.
• Install lighting in dimly lit parts of the house such as areas between rooms and corners.
• Adding nightlights in hallways and bathrooms.

Installing LED lighting will also reduce how often you’ll have to change bulbs; a process that involves climbing up surfaces which can be risky for older people.

An added advantage is that LED lighting is much brighter and will help lower your overall energy costs.

Fire Safety

Investing in proper home fire safety equipment is a no-brainer. Get some lightweight, easy-to-operate fire extinguishers and place them in convenient positions around the house and kitchen in particular.

Ensure you have smoke and Carbon Monoxide detectors installed on each level of your loved one’s house and especially near rooms you or your loved ones plan to spend most of your time in.

While these home additions will help, you may need an extra pair of hands to assist you in caring for your loved one. Consider hiring a caregiver to have an extra layer of support. Caring Home Care has a nurse registry that will match you or your loved one to a certified caregiver based on the specific needs of your family.