Is your home as family-friendly as it could be? When considering if our homes are family-friendly, it can be easy to first only think this pertains to children. Often we go straight to covering sharp corners and adding child locks. But it’s not only children we need to consider when making adaptations to the home. If you’ve thought about making your home more family-friendly for older relatives, we’re here to help.

As we age, certain things can become a lot more difficult. But, by making some small adjustments, we can not only make our homes much more suitable for older relatives but also future-proof them for ourselves. If you’ve thought about making your home more family-friendly for older relatives, we’re here to help.

Bathroom adaptations.

It’s ideal to ensure at least one bathroom in your home is fully equipped for an elderly guest. To do this, there are several options you can consider. You can add lever faucets and detachable shower heads to make showering simple for anyone with limited mobility. You may also want to consider adding a walk-in bath, as well as some mobility-friendly accessories. These can include rails, rugs, and non-slip mats.

Mobility aids.

While considering what adaptations you may need to make in your home, don’t forget to think about your entryways. Installing a ramp is a great option if the entryway of your home includes steep steps. When adding a ramp to your home, consider where it will lead. If your front door leads into a cramped hallway with limited turning space, then you might need to consider adding a ramp to your back door. Threshold ramps come in a variety of styles. However, if you don’t feel they match the style of your home, opt for a portable ramp that can be used when necessary.

When our loved ones get older, it’s so important to help them keep their sense of independence. By making these simple adjustments, you can ensure they feel supported and safe to carry on with their daily activities. Adding features such as mobility bathrooms and mobility aids can also be useful if anyone in the family suffers from an injury or a disability. As such,it’s certainly a multipurpose improvement that is sure to leave the whole family feeling at ease. 

Bedroom improvements.

If you have a guest bedroom that is likely to be frequented by elderly guests, consider adding some more support for the bed. Bed rails are easy to install and are a quick and convenient way to add more ease to their morning routine. Especially if they find themselves needing to get up more frequently at night, another great hack for the bedroom is to install a pocket organizer close by. This could be attached to the bed or the wall by the bed. There are tons of options available, so you’re sure to be able to find something that works with your interior style. You can even make your own. A pocket organizer means they can use it to keep any items they might need access to. We’re thinking, of reading glasses, mobile phones or laptops.