The Importance of Making It Comfortable For Seniors To Live At Home
Most elderly individuals would much prefer to age in place (another way of saying “live at home”) than at assisted living facilities. The first and most obvious reason is that it allows them to be around their families. Who wouldn’t prefer to wake up every day to their children and grandchildren rather than a constantly rotating line of nursing home employees?
The second reason most seniors would prefer to age in place is because they are much more familiar and comfortable with their surroundings. Their bedrooms and bathrooms are their own. This allows for greater feelings of belonging and peace of mind.
90 percent of seniors prefer living at home.
“Nearly 90% of individuals over age 65 want to stay in their home for as long as possible,” reports Rachel Hartman on Bankrate.com, citing a research report from the National Conference of State Legislatures and the AARP Public Policy Institute, “Furthermore, 80% believe their current residence is where they will always live.”
However, it’s important to note that aging in place isn’t always the most comfortable of situations. Without professional caregivers, some elderly people have tough times managing their day-to-day routines. Tasks such as climbing up and down the stairs can be cumbersome. As can be expected, many seniors contend with diminished strength and balance. As a result, it’s important to ensure that your stairways are as tripping hazard-free as possible.
In some cases, modifications to your home may be necessary.
A “stairway can be one of the dangerous areas especially for senior citizens,” writes Prakher Mathur on Makaan.com, “Ensure that the staircase has safely installed railings for them to hold. Alter the step height if need be to make it comfortable for them. For making alterations, you can call for professional help and level them to a comfortable height.”
Of course, the bathroom is another area of the home that deserves your strict attention. It is well known as one of the most dangerous rooms in the home. Its slippery surfaces are often culprits for slips and falls. And, for the elderly, slips and falls often lead to hip fractures and other injuries that require hospitalization. Mathur also gives his opinions about how to safeguard bathrooms.
“Bathrooms present a high risk of slipping,” he affirms, “Install anti-skid tiles and water taps that are easy to operate. It is also advisable to have ample lighting in the bathroom. Eliminate all the steps in the bathroom, instead level it, and use non-slip mats.”
What if you could make your bathroom a non-factor in your elderly loved one’s safety?
At Forward Day, we’re especially proud of the way our portable Shower Bay showers take the bathroom out of the equation. Because they can be easily snapped together in any room of the home where there is a faucet nearby, it completely removes the risk of any slipping and falling. Instead, seniors can simply roll their shower wheelchairs into Shower Bay to take very safe and comfortable showers with running water.
Allow us to help you make it a lot more comfortable for your elderly loved one to live at home! If you have any questions about Shower Bay, please don’t hesitate to contact us to ask them. Give us a call at 1-877-223-8999 or email us at info@showerbay.com.
