Nothing can beat the comfort of your own home.
If you consider nursing home care but want to retain your independence instead, consider these five home modifications.
These modifications can potentially keep you from going into a nursing home.
Stairlift
Stairs are one of the most dangerous obstacles in our houses, and stairs become more difficult to negotiate as we age and start to lose strength and stability.
If you have a two-story house, you can regain access to the upper level of the house by installing a stairlift.
Stairlifts provide safe, effortless transport both up and downstairs, so you can navigate your entire house again.
Ramp
If you have begun to use a cane, walker, or wheelchair, then navigating the stairs up to your porch can be a real challenge.
Installing a ramp is an excellent way to make your entire house more accessible.
Large mobility ramps are available with handrails and can increase overall access to your house from outside, while smaller threshold ramps can allow you to easily navigate raised doorways with a walker or other wheeled equipment.
Handrails
Adding handrails to your home increases your stability and safety. Handrails can be added to any room, but they’re popular additions to entrances and bedrooms.
Handrails are available in various styles, from polished wood to buffered metal, so that they can fit seamlessly in with your existing household décor.
If your staircase doesn’t already have handrails on both sides, consider adding a second handrail for improved stability when going up and downstairs.
Grab Bars
The bathroom is a dangerous room, with its slippery tub surface.
Installing grab bars in the tub or shower area can help to keep you from slipping when getting in and out of the tub, preventing dangerous falls in the process.
Additionally, consider installing grab bars near the toilet to assist with mobility.
Grab bars can also be installed in any area where you could use some assistance or support.
Install grab bars next to your favorite chair to help with getting to your feet again, or put grab bars near entranceways for additional stability while you navigate a doorway.
Better Lighting
Your entire household will benefit from the addition of better lighting.
Poorly lit areas, like staircases and bedrooms, can be hazardous if you can’t see what’s in front of you.
Better lighting can improve your balance and can help you avoid potential falls and other injuries – when you can see what’s in front of you, you’re less likely to knock into or trip over furniture or other objects.
Installing better lighting in your home has an added benefit:
You’ll be better able to see everything you do.
From cooking to reading to bathing, improving your entire home’s lighting is sure to improve your overall experience living in the house.
Bringing better lighting into your home doesn’t have to be a big project, either – it may be as simple as investing in strong lamps and higher wattage lightbulbs.
These five home modifications can help improve some of the difficulties you’ve encountered living in your home.
Consider installing these five home modifications to keep from going into a nursing home.
