The care of aging, disabled relatives often falls on the shoulders of family members. Often, however, keeping senior family members safe at home can mean making a few changes around the house to help improve mobility and accessibility. Take a look at these common equipment upgrades and how they can help provide your family members with a safer, more comfortable environment.
The Advantages of Upgrading Equipment at Home
Upgrading the equipment at home can be an effective way to improve the quality of life for your elderly relative. The increased mobility and safety in the home environment can help your loved one enjoy his or her surroundings more while providing family members with peace of mind knowing their relative is safe. Upgrades can also help reduce dependence on caregivers, giving seniors a more active role in day-to-day activities and making it easier for them to stay independent as long as possible.
Upgrades to Make in Your Home
There are several important upgrades you may want to make in your home to help improve mobility and independence for senior loved ones.
- Wheelchair Ramps: If stairs are an obstacle for your elderly relative, consider installing a wheelchair ramp in the home to provide easy access. You can find pre-made ramps or install custom-built ones based on the available space and design of the home.
- Stair Lifts: Installing stair lifts is another way to make stairs more accessible in the home. This may be a good solution if you don't have room for a wheelchair ramp, but still want to provide easy transportation up and down stairs.
- Widened Doorways: Widening doorways can open up pathways around the house, making it easier for wheelchairs and scooters to maneuver through each room without obstruction.
- Bathroom Modifications: Handicap bathrooms often need modifications such as widened doors and extra support rails for safety purposes. Toilets should also usually be higher so that seniors don't have trouble sitting down, rising from their seats, or transferring from their wheelchairs onto them.
- Shower and Bathtub Modifications: Ramping techniques can help seniors get into showers with ease while walk-in bathtubs come complete with seating areas so that visits to the bathroom aren't stressful activities, nor do they pose any health threats due to falling hazards.
- Lift Chairs: Lift chairs are designed specifically for comfort as well as convenience and generally feature motorized functions which assist individuals when trying to get out of their chairs after use.
Does Your Senior Loved One Need More Help at Home?
When you have a senior loved one who needs increasing levels of help at home, simply installing equipment upgrades may not be enough to help maintain a high quality of life. A senior caregiver, on the other hand, can offer immense support as seniors age. At Senior Helpers Havertown, we offer in-home care and support for seniors in Havertown, Media, Newtown Square, Ambler, Glenside, and Montgomery County. Contact us to discuss how we can help seniors with mobility issues stay at home longer, including how we can help with regular self-care tasks, transportation, and more.