How to Prepare Your Home for an Elderly Loved One
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When you’re a child, your parents take care of you and watch out for you. As your parents age, you might find that you need to spend more time caring for them. There may come a point in time when you decide that you need to move an elderly parent or an older loved one into your home. In the same way that you would baby proof each room before your child starts walking, you will need to prepare your home for someone who has limited mobility and other issues.
Make Life Easier
You need to look for ways to make life easier for your loved one. Adding industrial casters to the bottom of shelving units and cabinets can help. These casters help an elderly person get everything he or she needs with fewer struggles. They can pull those shelves out without asking for help to find the things they want or need. You should look for casters with a locking design, especially if you move in someone with memory problems. Those casters lock in place to keep others from pulling the shelves down.
Consider the Bathroom
Elderly people often have problems using the bathroom and even cleaning their own bodies, but there are a few things you can do to your bathroom before that individual moves into your home. You can install rails near the toilet and inside the shower. These rails have a slip-proof design. Users can grab onto the rails when they need help getting into a standing position. They can also use those rails to get in and out of the shower easier. You may want to think about adding a walk-in shower to your bathroom too. These showers have a flat edge that older people can more easily step over.
Think About a Safety System
You should also consider installing a safety system to your home. Many companies make systems that allow elderly people to carry a device on their bodies. In the case of an emergency, they can hit a button on that device to call for help. You can add other products that monitor the user for slips and falls. At the first sign of a fall, the company will alert you to the problem. When you prepare your home, you’ll feel more confident about having an elderly loved one move in with you.