Maybe you’re nowhere near retirement, but Mom is moving in. Maybe you frequently host guests with mobility issues. Or maybe you’re simply looking to ensure a safe living space for yourself as you age that doesn’t put you at risk of dangerous falls. “More than one in four adults aged 65 or older fall every year,” says Dr. Alexander Billioux, chief medical officer at UnitedHealthcare. “This is the leading cause of injuries for older Americans. The good news is there are ways to reduce risk by making simple changes in your home.”
Whatever your reason for adding aging-in-place modifications to your home, you’re not alone: More seniors live alone or with only their spouse in the U.S. than in most other countries worldwide. At the same time, more and more families are welcoming the idea of multigenerational residences. In short: Universal design is a universal concern.
And while creating an accessible home can require professional renovations, this isn’t always the case — there are plenty of low-lift home improvements that anybody can make. Here, Jamie Gold, a wellness design consultant and author of Wellness by Design: A Room-by-Room Guide to Optimizing Your Home for Health, Fitness and Happiness, shares her top design tips to enhance your home’s accessibility — with no contractor required.
Bedroom
Being well-rested is a prerequisite for staying healthy, but aging brings a host of mental, physical and lifestyle changes that can disrupt sleep patterns and quality. Happily, there are ways to minimize them. “Start by controlling your bedroom environment,” says Gold. “Look for window coverings that block out light and noise — especially automated treatments that can be raised and lowered with the touch of a button, so you don’t even have to get out of bed.” Installing circadian light bulbs in your bedroom is another way to instill a sense of routine into your sleep pattern. To prevent falls, make sure to move any cords, clothes or bedding that may cause you to trip.
Bathroom
“You should prioritize a shower seat and a handheld showerhead,” says Gold. “The great thing about the handheld is it makes it easier to clean yourself and the entire shower area.” She also recommends adding bidet functionality to your toilet, as this decreases the need for those with mobility limitations to use the tub and shower for cleaning—thus lessening the risk of tub and shower falls. Place nonskid mats in the shower and bath to further protect against falls. An en suite bathroom is ideal for seniors (not to mention everyone else), but if that’s not an option, establish the senior’s bedroom as the one closest to the hallway bathroom. Then line the hallway with night-lights to ensure a safe path there and back.
Kitchen
This space can be a hotbed of hazards for older members of the household. “Invest in tiered, pull-out shelving for cookware and pantry items,” says Gold, so no one has to get down on their knees to rummage through lower-level cabinets. Additionally, she recommends an induction cooktop, which heats using magnetic fields, to reduce fire and burn risks (portable versions of these are also available for a less expensive upgrade). Make a constant effort to keep the kitchen floor dry, as water from the sink can lead to slips and falls if not cleaned up. If your home is multi-level, you can even indulge your inner college student and create a DIY kitchen in or near the bedroom by stocking it with a mini-fridge, microwave, water cooler and coffee maker.
Additional Tips
“Do a physical walk-through of the entire space, focusing on potential trip hazards,” says Gold. Look for loose rug corners, super-slippery floors, wired chargers underfoot—anything that could cause a fall. Additional tips to guard against falls include removing furniture from common walkways, avoiding throw rugs, and covering wood stairs with carpet or non-slip covering.
Don’t just consider your home during the daytime—think about how it will look and feel at night as well. Adding plug-in lights along the stairwell and low-level lights in hallways can make navigating these transitory spaces safer for those with decreased mobility or vision.
And to help keep everyone on schedule, consider installing smart technology that reminds seniors to complete their daily tasks—as minor as taking the trash out or as major as feeding themselves or taking their medications.
With a home that’s there for you, you’ll have more of the security you need to age healthily, safely and happily in place.
