Watching our parents and loved ones grow older can be a unique experience. But when our elderly family members begin to be unable to care for themselves, this can be heartbreaking. While assisted living care is always an option when you find yourself with an aging loved one who can no longer care for him or herself, these facilities often get a bad reputation. For example, there have been numerous reports of elderly abuse in nursing home facilities across the country. And while there are options to seek justice on behalf of your loved one should they befall harm or injury in a nursing facility, you may want to avoid the possibility altogether by considering other options.

Instead of opting for a nursing home, one way to solve the issue is to remodel your home or the home of your loved one to be safer for them. And this can be accomplished using relatively simple means. Here, we’ll explore a few ways you can remodel or upgrade a home to better suit your aging loved one.

Adding Railing

When you reach retirement age, most people aren’t as agile as they once were. In fact, performing basic tasks such as bending and lifting becomes extremely difficult. And along with this, walking and balance can also become difficult as well. Aging relatives or loved ones who have trouble walking, adding railing to several areas of the home can help mitigate falling and create a safer environment altogether. And the best part is, the railing can be added to any wall or area of the home using simple carpentry skills.

Places, where railing can greatly benefit the elderly, are along staircases (even in areas where only a couple of steps are present such as with an outside porch) or in a sunken living room. Additionally, you can add railing down the hallway, into rooms, and even in a bathroom or a shower for added safety.

Ramps

While some of our elderly have trouble walking, others have extreme difficulty or they’re unable to walk even a short distance without endangering themselves. And this is where the use of mobility devices such as scooters, wheelchairs, and walkers comes into play. The only problem with getting around the home on a scooter, wheelchair, or walker is that you often have to navigate corners and stairs just to get from point A to point B.

In order to make this process safer, installing ramps that lead into all entrances can be ideal for any senior citizen who has extreme difficulty walking and has to rely on assistance. Basically, if you have stairs leading into the home, consider removing them and replacing them with a ramp.

Removing Obstructions

We all know that Grandma loves her collectibles and knick-knacks. But when Grandma’s decorations become obstacles, it’s time for them to go. While a room full of furniture is nice when you have large family gatherings, much of the decorations and furniture can also serve as obstructions for an older adult who has difficulty moving around. And removing these obstructions is the best strategy.

In addition, homes with many separating walls can also hinder an older adult’s ability to easily maneuver into or out of rooms. And if you have a home with many walls, this can pose a safety issue. But you don’t need to go swinging the sledgehammer and knocking down all of your walls just yet. Depending on the structure of the home, you may opt to widen doorways or entry points, or even remove walls entirely if you have a structure that permits this type of modification.

Our parents and elders nurtured us when we were younger and had to rely on help to live. And once they reach a certain age, it becomes our turn to help them out and show them the same love that they once showed us. While not everyone has the means to care for an older adult, we can all do our part to ensure that they’re cared for and have the assistance they need.