The comfort and benefits of living in their own homes has some seniors choosing to continue to age in place. In a country like India, elders live with their families. To make sure we provide our elders with a safe and comfortable environment, we need to adapt to their needs and requirements.
Let’s see and explore some practical tips to help a senior living in India maintain their independence, live peacefully and improve their quality of life at home.
1. Remove potential tripping hazards
One of the main concerns for seniors is falling that can lead to severe injuries. To minimise tripping and falling, make sure to remove and potential hazards. Move aside the clutter on the floor, remove excess wires, obstacles like tables, chairs with wheels, loose carpets etc.
2. Make the bathroom safe
One of the most accident prone areas in the house for elders is the bathroom. To avoid accidents, you can install grab bars to help in giving support, provide senior friendly toilet seats, and install anti-slip mats in the shower and bathtub areas.
3. Install handrails and ramps
Help elders navigate around the house by installing handrails for easy movement. In case any of them use a wheelchair, make sure to put in ramps, especially at the home entrance, to the bathrooms and make the home suitable and accessible for the elderly with physical challenges.
4. Maintain an organised kitchen
Make sure to place the important items at reachable places for senior citizens. Make the necessary arrangements to make the kitchen accessible to them. Label the different jars and boxes to make it easy for the elderly grab what they need. Make sure the kitchen is brightly lit at all times and ensure to keep away hazardous items.
5. Give them a ground-floor bedroom
If you live in a duplex apartment or villa, make sure to reserve the ground floor bedroom for your elders as it is challenging for them to climb up many stairs, multiple times a day. This also increases the safety and gives you easy access in case of any emergency.
6. Install bright lights at home
Avoid using dim or mood lighting as they might not be able to see clearly, which may increase the chances of accidents. Make sure to install bright lights around the house. Also, install a night lamp in the bedroom so they can clearly see at night. One other tip is to install motion-sensing lights, which can guide them to the bathroom at night if need be.
7. Regular home maintenance
Frequent home maintenance is important for the safety and longevity of the living space. Inspect and repair handrails, grab bars, and flooring on a regular basis. Check for leaks from taps around the house and in the bathrooms.
Ageing in place can be a preferred way to live for some seniors living in India, so it is our duty to ensure their stay is comfortable and safe. By implementing the above tips at home, you can create a secure environment for them to move about and maintain their independence. We hope this helps you!
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