Home Safety for Aging Parents
The boomer generation is, with good reason, often called the “Sandwich Generation” because we tend to be caring for both our children (and maybe grandchildren) as well as aging parents. As we all know, aging can affect vision and balance. A bad fall can mean a broken bone or damaged hip. Here are a few easy and quick things you can do to aging parents’ homes to make them a little bit safer without a huge and expensive remodel.
- Put a non-slip mat inside and outside a tub or shower.
- Install brighter light bulbs — switching to compact fluorescent bulbs will also save energy
- Put a bench, table or chair near the entrance most commonly used to provide a place to put packages while opening the door
- Install lights in closets
- Install motion-activated lights in the bathroom
These simple changes can make a home much safer and more comfortable.