Creating the Best Senior Home Modifications for Safety

At first glance, your parents’ home may not seem like a particularly dangerous place. But there are many hidden risks for the elderly around the home. For example, poor lighting and clutter can make navigation difficult for seniors with mobility challenges. Uneven thresholds or slippery floors can cause trips and falls. In fact, falls are the leading cause of injury among older Canadians with 20-30% of seniors experiencing one or more falls each year.¹

Here are some tips on how to create a safe and accessible home for your senior loved ones so they can age in their beloved home, safely and independently.

Get an Occupational Therapy Assessment for Senior Home Modifications

Before making changes to your parents’ home, it may help to first get them assessed by an occupational therapist.

Occupational therapy is a type of health care that helps to solve the problems that interfere with a person’s ability to do the things that are important to them – everyday things like:

• Self-care — getting dressed, eating, moving around the house
• Being productive — going to work or school, participating in the community
• Leisure activities — sports, gardening, social activities.²

An occupational therapist can work with your parents to help them perform the activities they want/need to, and can suggest changes to their home that will support those activities.

Based on the assessment, you can plan the senior home modifications that may need to be made. Here are a few that may help your parents live more comfortably and safely.

General Senior Home Modifications

Zero-threshold entry—Zero-threshold entries have no steps, helping to minimize the risk of a fall. If a zero-threshold entry to the home is not possible, consider an entry ramp with no steps. The ramp could also be used for wheelchair access if it’s needed in the future.

Low-maintenance flooring—Comfort and ease of maintenance are the top things to consider when choosing flooring. Seniors’ gait and ability to pick up their feet may be hampered by arthritis or other conditions that affect the way they walk.

• If your parents like carpet, keep in mind that even though it’s soft, it’s harder to keep clean. When choosing carpeting, pick a tight pile installed over a firm, thin padding that will support walking.
• If hardwood is your parents’ preference, remember that a high-gloss hardwood could be a slipping hazard. So, choose a material with a lot of texture to cut down on slipping.
• Avoid using area rugs.

Lighting for Senior Home Modifications

As many seniors have reduced vision, proper lighting is one of the most essential keys to a safe living environment.

Here are some important lighting tips to help keep your loved ones safe.

Use task lighting—Task lighting is specialized, focused lighting that makes it easier to perform certain activities. For example, if your loved one likes to read, make sure they have a reading light positioned over their favourite reading spot. Adding task lighting in the kitchen can make it easier and safer for seniors to prepare their meals.

Make sure light controls are accessible and easy to use—Take a pass throughout each room to make sure that all light switches are within easy reach and without obstruction.

• Upgrades and senior-friendly features can make adjusting the lights easier for older adults with limited mobility. For example, many lights can be retrofitted with controls that so that they turn them on and off with a clap. Other styles make it easy to turn the light on or off with a simple touch.
• Motion-activated lights are important in areas such as the front entryway or the primary bathroom.
• Finally, consider long-lasting LED lights, which can help decrease the need to use a ladder to swap out bulbs, another safety hazard.

Technology and Senior Home Modifications

The best technology solutions for seniors are those that integrate seamlessly into their lives, supporting their habits and routines rather than changing them altogether. Here are some technologies that allow seniors greater independence.³

In-home monitoring systems—Sensors placed around the house to monitor an older adult’s movement and daily habits without using cameras that can infringe on their privacy. Sensors placed on the fridge door can track when someone is opening it; sensors under the carpet can track movement and even changes in gait. Some sensors can distinguish between the sound of a person falling and some other big noise that wouldn’t warrant the same kind of urgent attention.³

Health monitors—Wearable devices can track an older adult’s vitals, including blood pressure, temperature and cardiac health. These monitors can even send data directly to healthcare providers.

Smart doorbells— When the doorbell rings, your older loved one might wonder whether or not they should answer the door. A smart video doorbell offers an easy solution. By using the doorbell’s smartphone app, your loved one can see who’s there without getting up or unlocking the door. They can even carry on a conversation through two-way audio.

Vyta Helps with Senior Home Modifications

Helping your parents live at home as they age requires careful consideration and planning. Making the right senior home modifications to their environment can help them maintain their independence and safety.

We can help keep home a safe place to be. Vyta can assist with many tasks, including:

• Grab bar installation
• Shower/bathtub remodel
• Shower stall cut-out
• Lift installations (stairlift, Hoyer lift, etc.)
• Adjusting countertop heights
• Widening doorways
• Ramp installations
• Flooring modifications (i.e., replacing carpets with hardwood)

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Sources

1. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health-promotion/aging-seniors/publications/publications-general-public/seniors-falls-canada-second-report/seniors-falls-canada-infographic.html
2. https://caot.ca/site/about/ot?nav=sidebar&banner=1
3. https://www.ioaging.org/technology/smart-technology-to-help-seniors-live-independently/