Making the home safe and more manageable for elderly people is one of the many challenges facing the elderly and their families. What were once family homes made child proof now need to be adapted in a different fashion, perhaps to accommodate changing and reduced physical mobility or due to the onset of mental illness.
From personal experience, I have witnessed my elderly parents going out of their way to avoid the bathroom until absolutely necessary, as the challenges of washing and ablutions can often be physically daunting.
Nowadays many of the bathroom challenges can be easily rectified in consultation with a plumber, and there are a multitude of safety bathroom products and equipment designed especially for the home. For example, the modifying the bathroom into a wet room, furnished with seats and handrails and able to accommodate wheelchairs and walking frames, can easily transform a bathroom into a safer and more palatable experience. Heightened toilets with automatic lids are another practical means of future-proofing the bathroom along with sliding entry doors and automatic sensor lighting.
Your local council may be able to provide contacts for trusted tradesmen and plumbers to help you. Another alternative is to approach a bathroom supply company as they quite often have interior design specialists to assist you with your project and recommend plumbers with a history of bathroom design.
Other tips to make tasks easier around the home:
If you want to stay independent in your own home for longer, there are numerous other adaptations and gadgets that could help to make your home safe and everyday life easier http://www.springchicken.co.uk has a wide range of useful gadgets.
Other useful tips to ensure the home is safe and manageable for elderly:
Add a ramp or hand rails for the front door and ensure there are outdoor lights for better visibility.
Install a stair lift and/or Grab rails or a second bannister
Sometimes it is possible to reposition or widening doors for wheelchair access or a walking aid trolley
Install a shower seat or bath lift or re-design the bathroom to have a walk-in bath, or wet room
A kettle tipper is very helpful for shaky elderly people.
Have a tap and knob turner in the kitchen and maybe in the bathroom too.
Install cupboards with pull-out shelves for easy access
Always ensure that your elderly have a personal alarm
And that there are gas and carbon monoxide detectors, your utilities company can help install these.
Smoke alarms can be installed for free by the local fire brigade.
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