With many developed countries in the world experiencing rapidly ageing populations, designing homes with the needs of seniors in mind is something that has become more common in recent years. Many homeowners who are getting older or who live with seniors are also beginning to consider upgrades for their homes that can improve their accessibility and functionality. In this post, we take a closer look at some tips that can help you make your home more senior-friendly.
Assessing Your Home’s Current State
Before starting any remodelling or design work, assess the current state of your home. Primarily, you would want to conduct a home safety assessment to identify how safe your home currently is for seniors. Analyse the amenities and facilities in your home to identify areas which might pose potential hazards to elderly individuals.
General Safety Considerations
At the same time, you should also consider general safety considerations before even thinking about conducting any major modifications to your home’s infrastructure. For instance, consider removing tripping hazards and creating clear pathways that seniors can use to get from one area of the home to another. Non-slip flooring and grab bars may also be helpful additions that don’t cost much but significantly improve the safety of a home. Other general safety considerations may include ensuring that the home is sufficiently well-lit at all times of the day so that seniors are able to see where they are going.
Kitchen Modifications
After getting the basics down, you can then consider making more significant modifications to your home’s fixtures to accommodate the needs of seniors. Certain modifications you can consider making in the kitchen include lowering countertops and cabinets to make them easier to reach. If possible, it may also be beneficial to design the kitchen with a user-friendly layout for cooking and food preparation where everything is within easy reach.
Bathroom Modifications
Bathrooms are one of the most common areas for seniors to injure themselves. As such, making some modifications to them can greatly improve the senior-friendliness of the home. For instance, walk-in showers or bathtubs with grab bars can help to reduce the risk of slip-related injuries. Raised toilet seats or toilets with built-in handrails will also make it much easier for seniors to relieve themselves without needing help.
Smart Home Technology
Incorporating smart home technology can also be beneficial in improving a home’s accessibility. For example, medical alert systems can enable seniors to call for help if they have accidentally injured themselves easily. Systems such as automated temperature and lighting control can also improve liveability overall.
Let Australian Heritage Homes Help with Your House Design
If you’re thinking of building a new home or remodelling your existing home to make it more senior-friendly, Australian Heritage Homes can help. We are the leading provider of custom house design services in Melbourne, and our experts have decades of industry experience. Contact us today to find out more!