How Can I Make My Mississippi Home Accessible for My Aging Parent?
If your parents live long enough, there may come a time when they’ll need your assistance. According to Hall & Rheingans, long-term care will be a requirement for most Americans by the time they reach 70 years old. If you live in Mississippi, here are ways to adjust your home for an aging parent.
Stair Lifts
Is your home a multi-level place? If so, it may be harder for an aging parent to go up and down flights of stairs. If your parent is losing mobility, you may want to make things easy by installing a stair lift. Depending on the type of housing structure you have, you may also want to consider installing an elevator.
Bathroom Updates
The bathroom is the room everybody must use several times a day, so it’s no surprise that it’s also the second most popular type of home remodeling. According to Zillow, bathroom remodeling typically offers a $13,422 return on investment. Since the bathroom is where you bathe, water can easily get on the floor and other surfaces and cause slips and falls. You can make renovations that make it easier for your aging parent to comfortably bathe and relieve themselves.
One of the fastest installations is handlebars by toilets, sinks, and bathing areas. If you currently have a shower-tub combination, remodelers can break it up by separating the two. A walk-in shower is easier as your parent won’t have to step over a tub surface. Within the shower itself, you can also have a seat for them to shower comfortably. If your parent prefers baths, you can install a walk-in tub separately.
Outdoor Spaces
It’s no secret that nature is good for everyone’s overall health. More Americans have added to their outdoor living space since the dawn of the pandemic by way of patios, decks, and outdoor kitchens. According to Business Insider, home improvement and repair spending increased by almost 3% to $420 billion in 2020. So imagine how much you can add to your aging parent’s life by ensuring they have proper access to outdoor living. If the doors to your patio are narrow, you can have remodelers install wider ones so parents can move through mobility devices such as wheelchairs, scooters, or walkers. You can also install ramps on your outdoor patios and decks so they can easily maneuver around the area.
Smart Technology
Thanks to smart technology, it’s never been easier to have a home that can function by way of a voice command or the push of a button. With smart technology, you can get alerts if your parent has had a fall or an accident. Smart technology can be intertwined with cameras all over your home so that you can monitor activity inside and out.
Fences and Gates
Whether your parents live with you and you’re away from home or they live on their own, you may be extra worried about security. Luckily, you could install automatic gates, which makes it harder for anyone to reach the front door without permission. The gate system allows one to see who’s outside and only lets someone in by buzzing them into the gate. This type of fencing system gives anyone in the home extra security and privacy.
If you live in Mississippi and want to ensure your aging parents can live independently or you can make your home more accessible to them, there are many ways to do so. Use this guide as a way to help them comfortably age in place. From automatic gates to handlebars to walk-in showers, there are many ways to make a home more comfortable for someone getting up in age.
