Parents usually want to stay away from their kids to provide them with the independence they need for growth and development. It is an underrated sacrifice that not every person appreciates or acknowledges. Parents have to let go of a child they raised and loved unconditionally. Going separate ways for a long time is inevitable, only seeing each other during holidays or special occasions.

However, there might come a period where living is challenging for your parents. Is it not proper to give back to the people who raised and nurtured you? Senior citizens might require assistance, and the best option for them is to receive shelter and sustenance from their children growing up to become stable adults. Living with an aged person, however, requires adjustments. Here are a few tips to help you make your home more senior-friendly.

Assistive Handling

There is one thing true about seniors. They no longer have the strength they used to enjoy in their prime. Household activities like chores and maintenance tasks become impossible to accomplish without hurting themselves, making it challenging to survive by themselves. When they reach an older age, even the act of standing up could provide a challenge. Our bodies deteriorate as we grow older, so expect senior citizens to have difficulties with physical activities. As a result, they require assistance in almost every act. Standing up without struggling could be challenging, leading to slips and falls. The obstacle becomes more problematic when going up the stairs or entering the bathroom.

If you know that your aging parents will struggle with those activities, adding handrails and grips in strategic areas should be your top priority. Bathroom handles are necessary as a simple fall could be fatal for a senior citizen. The rails around the hallways ensure that your parents can recover their balance. A moving chair might be necessary for senior citizens if they no longer have the knees to go up and down the stairs. Those assistive rails ensure that seniors are safe without supervision, especially when they are in relatively good health. However, it remains critical to keep an eye on them.

One-Floor Living

It is necessary to identify the most challenging obstacle for your parents. Your home might be comfortable for your entire family except them, but you might not account for their arrival. Most homes have designs where the tenants’ bedrooms are all on the top floor. That layout makes it challenging for seniors to survive in today’s home. Babies and children are easy enough to carry, something you could say is challenging for seniors.

If adding a stairlift is beyond the renovation budget, moving around the room assignments should be your best option. Senior citizens should remain on the ground floor, which means that you have to make room for them. They already have access to all essential appliances and fixtures in that area, and having to go up to rest could be counterproductive. They might not have a private room, but their quality of life remains as convenient as possible.

Baby-Like Treatment

There are lots of differences between a child and a senior citizen. However, the circle of life is funny that way. As a parent, the most vital part of babyproofing your home involves keeping sharp and hazardous objects out of their reach. Your reasons might be more of preventing kids’ curiosity from getting the better of them. For senior citizens, it is more of trying to prevent accidents from becoming fatal. More open space allows seniors to move freely without having to bump into objects that could lead to unfortunate situations.

Vases, glass objects, and other sharp and fragile materials should be out of their reach. The edges of tables and surfaces should also have protection. Try to treat the renovation the same way you would for your child when accommodating your aging parents.

What to Do When You Don’t Have Room?

Unfortunately, not every adult can take care of their aging parents. The responsibilities they have on their hands could be overwhelming, making it challenging for them to keep an eye on them. Fortunately, you can seek assistance from the rest of your family. A hired nurse could also help you out, ensuring that your parents have someone to assist them while you work.

Should you fail to make your home senior-friendly, you can take your parents to a reputable nursing home. Visiting them could lift their spirits, and you might have enough time and money to adjust your home according to their comfort.

Your efforts to help out your aging parents will be satisfying, making it feel like you are paying them back for all the sacrifices and actions to help you out. However, these changes should be part of your adjustments when taking them into your home.