Senior Style: Home Furnishing to Improve the Life of the Elderly

There are numerous ways to make your home comfortable and accessible as you enter your senior years.

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If relocating or downsizing happens to be among the new adventures you are considering, building a home that is custom designed to meet your current and future needs could be the ideal way to make life easier for you as time goes by.

Whether you choose the option of renovating your current home or plan to build a home, there are some basic accessibility features to consider.

Doorways

When building your custom-design home, design an entrance that either has no threshold or a low threshold and no entryway steps. If you’ve opted to renovate your home, you may have to include the installation of a ramp in order to make your home accessible.

There are many very attractive ramp designs and landscaping options that will enable you to add a ramp without adversely affecting the appearance of your home. Interior and exterior doorways need to be wide enough to allow you to easily enter and exit with a walker or wheelchair.

Many seniors find that lever handles are a more convenient option than standard door knobs.

Kitchen

Kitchen design features that can make life easier for someone in a wheelchair include a low kitchen sink and an opening under the sink that makes it accessible to someone using a wheelchair. Kitchen cabinet designs or cabinets that feature a lazy susan or pull-out shelves are an excellent convenience.

Lever faucets or touchless faucets are a more senior-friendly option for those dealing with arthritis or other fine motor difficulties.

Bathroom

If you’re building a home for the purpose of aging in place, a spacious bathroom should be a priority. A non-slip floor, grab bars, lever faucets and an accessible tub or shower should be part of the design.

Once again, having an open space under the sink makes it convenient for someone using a wheelchair. If this is a feature you don’t currently need, when building or renovating, it is wise to plan ahead for possible future needs.

Professionals can assist you in designing a home that will enable you to live comfortably in your home as you get older and your needs change. Experts in the field of home design, with a focus on homes for the elderly, can introduce you to conveniences that you may not even know exist.

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