Moving Your Elderly Parent Into Your Home? 5 Ways To Adapt Your Home To Meet Their Needs
While care homes are suitable for some, if your parent doesn’t want to be placed in a home, then you may want to consider moving them into your own house instead. This can be a great alternative to moving your parent into a home as it means they will be in a place that is familiar to them, and they will have the full-time support of their family.
Moving your parent into your home means that you need to adapt your home so that it is suitable for their needs. As we get older, we lose a lot of our mobility, so it is important that your home can provide a safe and comfortable environment for your parent. If you have been thinking about moving your parent into your home, then hopefully, this article can help. In this article, we will go over five ways you can adapt your home to meet your parent’s needs. Keep on reading to find out more.
Have A Conversation With Them First
Before you start making any changes to your home, you should first have a conversation with your parent. Although it is your house, it will soon become your parents’ home too, so you must make sure you are doing what you can to make the home comfortable for them. It would be a good idea to sit down with them and ask them what they need from you and from your home. Talk to them about any mobility issues they may have and then ask them what changes need to be done, so that your home can support them. This is an important step as you want to ensure you are doing what you can to provide support and comfort for your parent. Once you have had a conversation, you can then start making changes to your home.
Ensure The Bathroom Is Accessible
Ensuring your bathroom is accessible is another way that you can adapt your home for your elderly parent. Unfortunately, a lot of modern bathrooms are not catered towards the elderly, which can make going to the bathroom and having a shower very difficult. If you are going to move your parent into your home, then it is important that you ensure the bathroom is accessible. Renovating your bathroom into a wet room can make accessing the bathroom much easier as it means there are no steps to climb over. You should also consider installing handrails throughout the room so that there is something to hold on to. Lastly, invest in a shower seat for your parent too, as this will mean they can comfortably sit down in the shower without any issues.
Consider Installing A Stair Lift
If you know that your parent struggles with getting up the stairs, then it would be a good idea to install a stair lift in your home. Even if they can manage at the moment, having a stair lift in place is a good idea as it means if in a few years, they struggle with their mobility, you already have the stair lift fitted, so they can still get up and down the stairs easily. Installing a stair lift is pretty simple too; all you need to do is get someone in to measure your stairs and then the lift can be fitted soon after. If your stairs have a slight curve at the top, then you may want to consider getting a stair lift that curves at the top too, so that there is no risk of falling at the top of the stairs.
Make Sure They Have Their Own Space
When it comes to moving your parent into your home, you should make sure that they have their own space. You have to remember that once you move them in, your home becomes their home too, so it is important that they have their own privacy and room. Having a parent move into your home will be a big change for both you and your parent, so it is important that you acknowledge this, and you provide them with their own room and privacy. Work with them to design a comfortable and cosy room, whilst also meeting all of their needs.
Consider Hiring Extra Help
While it certainly is possible to care for an elderly parent by yourself, if you do not feel as if you have the right tools or enough time to provide adequate care, then you may want to consider hiring extra help instead. Having a carer come in a few times a day can put a lot of pressure off you and it means that your parent can get the support and help they need. Perhaps start with a carer coming in a couple of times a day and then ask your parent if they need more or less support. Communication is essential, so make sure you are checking in with your parent and ensuring that they are feeling supported and cared for.
