Aging in Place: 11 Tips for More Safety and Comfort

As we get older, we begin to encounter many physical and mental challenges. Our bodies gradually deteriorate in some ways, limiting our capabilities, and our minds may not be as sharp as they used to be. If you want to retain your autonomy and independence for as long as possible, you’ll choose to age in place. But if you want to age in place safely and with greater comfort, you may need to make some changes to your environment.

Tips for Healthier, Happier Aging in Place

These are some of the most important changes you can make to age in place healthier and happier.

1.   Take care of the repairs soon. All houses have some lingering issues to take care of, but as you get older, these issues become more of a concern. It’s a good idea to take care of these as soon as possible, while you’re still young and in a better position to handle them. Give your home a thorough inspection and proactively address any maintenance or repair items that need your attention. You should also work on building a network of contacts you can call upon for a repair emergency.
2.   Remove excess clutter. Next, make the rounds and remove any excess clutter that might preclude your mobility. Are there piles of old mail or stacks of personal possessions filling up your rooms and hallways? The sooner you can get rid of these, the better. You want your house to be as open as possible.
3.   Make the bathroom more accessible. The bathroom is one of the most important rooms of the house to make accessible as you age in place. You’ll likely be making multiple visits to this room every day, and it’s where you’ll practice routine hygiene. Accordingly, it needs to be as comfortable and easily accessible as possible. Consider installing more non-slip mats, handlebars, and other safety and mobility aids to make this room more navigable. It’s also worth installing a heated bidet toilet seat so you can sit and clean yourself more comfortably.
4.   Identify and remove general hazards. Be on the lookout for any general hazards that might stand in your way as you get older. Even simple items, like thick rugs, could pose tripping hazards on the floor. Certain pieces of furniture, like tables, could also pose a risk of future injury without deliberate modification.
5.   Upgrade mobility options. Consider upgrading your mobility options as well. Depending on your physical capabilities and the nature of your house, you may want to install a wheelchair ramp, a stair lift, or simpler mobility aids like handlebars.
6.   Improve the lighting. One of the easiest ways to make your house easier to navigate is upgrading the lighting. Replace any light bulbs that need to be replaced and consider adding secondary and peripheral sources of light, such as night lights, to ensure adequate lighting in all conditions. As you get older and your vision declines further, good lighting is going to become even more valuable. Better lighting is also good for your mental health!
7.   Keep important information visible and nearby. It’s wise to keep important information relevant to you visible and nearby, such as posted on the refrigerator. Important information includes your name, your address, and any relevant medical details. This way, if anyone is nearby when you suffer a medical emergency, they’ll be able to contact help and provide them with all the necessary details to take action.
8.   Add gripping, non-slip strips and mats. Non-slip strips and mats are designed to make falling much less of a risk. Consider adding them to the most commonly traveled areas of your house.
9.   Plan around the stairs. You might be able to go up and down the stairs with minimal issues, but as you get older, this will become more challenging. You may need some kind of plan in place for how to navigate them, such as getting a cane, installing another rail, or getting a stair lift.
10.   Add more benches and/or chairs. It’s not a bad idea to add more benches or chairs throughout your house, as long as they don’t get in your way. Add these to frequently traveled areas to give yourself a place to stop and rest or a place to temporarily hold items.
11.   Upgrade the landscaping for low maintenance. Low maintenance landscaping can be quite beautiful, but it’s much easier to maintain. Unless you plan on having all of your landscaping needs handled by third parties, you should alter your landscaping early to keep it as hands-off as possible.

Getting Help and Support

Depending on your current age and your current range of capabilities, you may or may not be in a position to take care of these items yourself. If you’re struggling, or if you would just like a bit of extra help to get things situated, consider asking your family members, close friends, neighbors, or caretakers to give you a hand. There’s likely an abundance of people ready to help you with anything you need.