Home Modifications for Seniors Aging in Place

Due to the number of baby boomers now hitting retirement age and the cost of assisted living, more and more seniors are looking to age in place. Even though the firm grip that elderly residents have on their own independence might raise some concerns for their safety, an array of simple and affordable home safety equipment will surely put the family’s minds at ease. No, sadly the Robo-Butler 3000 is still in development, but seniors can still rely on medical alarm systems, shower benches, and environmental detectors to stay in one piece while navigating through their everyday life.

Medical alert systems

Personal emergency systems are the main protectors of independence-seeking seniors. The ‘one press of a button’ technology of the pendants and wristwatches allows for a non-intrusive way to add an extra safety net to the aging relative’s life. The device is waterproof so it can be worn in the shower, while its stylish design helps to disguise it as jewelry. However, the home-restricted base station can be left behind in favor of mobile units and on-the-go systems, which enable GPS tracking, fall detection, and with them full freedom both inside and outside of the house.

Medical alert companies often provide other useful equipment too, such as medication reminders, in-car alert systems, and activity monitoring kits. Car alerts are portable devices that fit into the cigar lighter of any vehicle and function as a fall detection unit while driving. The monitoring kit is a series of sensors that detect and track each occasion a certain object – like the fridge door – is used, giving family members a reliable report on the elderly person’s daily routine so they can intervene if the resident shows no sign of activity.

Home improvements

Medical alert systems aren’t the only items able to make an independent senior’s life more secure. Environmental detectors are a good start, since they cover all sorts of in-home hazards like fire, CO leaking, flooding and so on. If the senior is prone to burning the cookies, then the chance of a fire in the kitchen could be higher and as such a fire blanket or a small fire extinguisher is also recommended.

The bathroom is another troublesome area where many falls can occur. If the house already has a medical alert system, then mounting a wall button next to the shower is a good idea. However, preventing a fall from actually happening is an even better one, so make sure to set up a torsion bar above the bathtub or purchase a shower bench to enable a safe yet comfortable time in the bath. As for homes with two or more levels, a stairlift is going to be integral to moving about the house without risk. Not only do they make travelling upstairs faster but they will also save the aging resident from a difficult, straining physical movement that could end up in a fall.