Home Modifications When Moving In an Elderly Loved One
Home modifications tips for elderly parents moving in with caregivers
With Americans living longer and longer, and with the baby boomer retirement population exploding, and expecting to almost double in the next few years, one option that many families are taking is having elderly parents move in with their adult caregiver children.
We have found that it’s very important to consider certain home modifications so you can accommodate elderly loved ones moving in with you.
This is part of a continuing series of articles and helpful tips and insights into senior care and senior transition services by Nick Santoro and Joe Santoro of Personal Property Managers. Personal Property Managers specializes in senior transition services such as downsizing, content clean out and removal, estate sales, full service real estate and property sale and moving and services PA and NJ.
- Some general safety and room-by-room details to consider include:
- Make sure to have study handrails on all indoor and outdoor steps
- Install nonskid strips on or near steps and near the edges.
- For those with visual impairments, the strips should be a color that contrasts with the color of the steps.
- Light switches should be located near all entrances to each room, at each end of hallways, and at the top and bottom of stairwells.
- Lighting should be sufficiently throughout the home.
- Consider replacing traditional door knobs with lever handles which are easier to operate than doorknobs.
- Interior doors should have locks that can be opened from either side.
- Hallways and doorways should be wide enough to accommodate a walker or wheelchair.
- The water heater should be set at 120 degrees to reduce the risk of scalding.
- Solid color carpeting with dense pile will lower fall risks. Deep pile carpeting can be more difficult to walk on, and patterned carpeting may cause optical illusions for those who have difficulty with depth perception.
- To lower fall risks with hardwood floors, avoid wax or high gloss polishes or throw rugs.
- Avoid room entrances with raised door thresholds.
- Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors should be present near all sleeping areas.
- Check that kitchen cabinets and countertops are a comfortable height, and that there is space to roll a wheelchair under a counter, if needed.
- A side-by-side refrigerator/freezer will be easier to use than a top-bottom model.
- Electric or gas stoves should not be positioned under a window because the presence of curtains will increase the risk of fire.
- Sinks should have a single-lever mixing faucet.
- The touch pad of a microwave should be large and easy to read, and the device should be in a convenient location.
- There should be one bathroom located on the main floor of the home, as well as near the bedroom (if the home is multi-level).
- Grab bars should be present or can be installed near the toilet and tub/shower.
- Check that the toilet is a comfortable height.
- It is recommended that the tub/shower has a hand-held spray unit, and a built-in seat or space to utilize a shower chair (chairs are available which extend over the side of a tub if a stall shower is not present, however you will need a curtain instead of shower doors to minimize water escaping from the shower.)
- A pedestal sink may be needed if a wheelchair or regular chair will be used in front of the sink.
- The size of the bathroom should be adequate for wheelchair maneuverability
- Avoid throw rugs and bathmats. The floor should be carpeted (low pile), or matte-finished, textured tile instead of a smooth, potentially slippery surface.
- Towel racks and built-in soap dishes should be secure and not located where they might be used as a grab bar.
- One Bedroom should be available on the main floor of the home.
We have learned over the years that these modifications can make a world of difference for your elderly loved one.
For more information on real estate or home downsizing please contact Nick Santoro or Joe Santoro of Personal Property Managers at 215-485-9272 or908-368-1909. Personal Property Managers specializes in helping home owners transition from their home of many years into a new community. Personal Property Managers services Pennsylvania and New Jersey and offers downsizing services, estate sales services, home staging, discount full service real estate services via its association with Every Home Realty. Learn more about Personal Property Managers from our recent News Stories.
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