With the ready availability of home health providers and in-home care, many aging senior citizens are skipping the assisted living facilities and nursing homes and instead choosing to "age at home." Aging at home is basically a phrase to describe staying in your current surroundings as you age. While aging at home can be preferable for most seniors, it does take some doing. Not only will you need arrangements for the in-home care you need, you will need to make changes to your home to accommodate your changing needs as you get older, especially in the bedroom. Take a look at some of the changes you can make to your bedroom to allow you to age at home.
Move your bedroom to the ground floor.
The bedroom is easily one of the rooms where you will spend a lot of your time as you get older. Therefore, it needs to be as accessible as possible in the house. If you currently have an upstairs bedroom, consider relocating it to the ground floor so you will never have to face climbing stairs just to get to bed. If it is not possible for your bedroom to be moved, it is wise to go ahead and check on having a chair lift installed on the stairway.
Have phone and cable lines ran to the room.
During periods of illness or if you are not feeling well, you will spend much of your day in your bedroom. Having access to things like television to watch and a phone nearby can be a great convenience if this ever becomes the case as you get older. Additionally, having a phone in your bedroom will make it easier for you to reach out to someone for help if you need it in the middle of the night.
Make sure there is ample clearance space around the furnishings to get around.
As you grow older and your mobility becomes limited, you may have to rely on the help of an in-home care agent or mobility devices to get around, such as a walker or wheelchair. Because of this, cluttered and cramped walking areas around the furnishings are a really bad idea. Consider downsizing or eliminating bulky furniture pieces in exchange for smaller versions and get rid of any unnecessary clutter you now have in the bedroom that takes up floor space. Simply clearing clutter from the closet so you can keep most of your clothing inside can allow you to get rid of a bulky dresser, for example.
Share15 June 2017
I was always very healthy throughout my childhood, but when I became a teenager, I was diagnosed with a chronic illness. Thankfully, I had the support of my loving family to help keep me upbeat during a time that could have led to me experiencing the depression that some do after they first learn they will have an illness for life. I am very grateful for the advice I have gotten throughout my life, so I decided to create a blog where I can share all of the advice that has helped me live a happy, healthy life, despite having a chronic illness. Since I am on a medication that suppresses my immune system, I have also studied up on many other illnesses and tips for avoiding them and treating them. I plan to post health tips for people of a variety of ages and suffering with various illnesses!