Do you have an elderly loved one moving in with you?

Perhaps, you and your loved ones have decided that they move in with you so you can support them better.

Or maybe they are moving in with you so that you can oversee the in-home care they are receiving.

Whatever the case is, it is likely that you will need to make adjustments to your home in preparation for your loved one.

In this post, we’ll talk about 3 things you can do to get your home ready for your elderly loved one to move in with you.

Elderly loved one moving in? Here are 3 ways to prepare your home.

Consider mobility issues

It is important to consider any mobility issues your loved one might have.

If they use a walker or other mobility aids, you might consider them using the bedroom on the ground floor of your home, if you have one.

If you have stairs in your home, it may be necessary to install some kind of lift device to help your loved one get up and down the stairs.

In both cases, making mobility easier for your loved one will reduce the risk of falls and life-threatening injuries.

And making it safe for your loved one to move around freely will continue to promote their own independence.

Consider the bathroom

Dangerous slips can happen in the bathroom.

Thus, as you prepare to host your loved one, it will be important to improve the safety of the bathroom they will use.

Securing the bathroom so your loved one doesn’t fall includes:

• handrails your loved one can hold onto as they shower
• non-skid bathmats inside bathtubs
• shower chairs that allow your loved one to take a shower sitting down
• easy accessibility to bath items like soap, sponges, washcloths, etc
• fabric (usually cotton) mats on the floor so your loved one does not have to step on a floor that is wet

Even if you have people coming in to help your loved one with bathing and dressing, it is still important to keep the bathroom safe.

Reduce the risk of falls around the rest of the house

Here are a few tips for reducing the risk of falls around the house.

• Place mats on the kitchen floor to promote add friction and decrease the likelihood of falls.
• Spills on the floor should be cleaned up as soon as possible.
• Frayed edges of rugs in common areas should be trimmed as these can cause falls as well.
• Keep walkways in the house lighted- even at night! Use night lights in your elderly loved one’s bedroom and in the path that leads to the bathroom.

Most of these are quick fixes you can make to your home to support your loved one.