If you rarely have an elderly relative staying with you, then your home might not have been adapted to make sure they are safe.
This is not something that is out of the ordinary.
For many families, it is easier for them to go to the relatives home to see them, rather than have them visit, especially if they are sick or they have problems with mobility.
However, there are times throughout the year when it might be better for the relative to come to you.
They might want to get out of the house for a bit, or they might want to visit for Christmas, or a special occasion.
When this happens, you need to make sure that they are safe in your home because you would feel terrible if they came out of their house to have a nice time and then ended up in hospital.
If you are thinking of inviting an elderly relative to your home and you want to adapt it for them, then read ahead for some inexpensive tips for making the home safe.
Handrails Some elderly people might have trouble getting up and down stairs.
If you have a bannister on your stairs, then they should be able to get up and down quite safely.
However, some people might benefit from having an extra rail on the stairs so that they can use both hands to ease themselves up.
This might mean some drilling into the wall, to install the handrail but you can leave it there after they have gone and it will be there for next time.
Most mobility handrails are white in color and they are made out of wood, but if you want one that fits in with the design of your house, then look into getting a rail especially made.
If you do this, allow for the extra time to have it made and installed and keep note that it might cost a bit more money.
But, if it fits in with the design of the house, then it will be worth the extra money.
Exterior To get to the house, the relative will have to navigate the exterior of the house.
Most people forget about the outside of the house when they are adapting the home.
However, a lot of injuries could happen before the relative has even entered the home.
Therefore, you will have to look into adapting the outside as well.
If you have a lot of stairs leading up to the property, you might have to install freestanding handrails to help the person up the stairs.
You might not want to do this since it will change the entire look of the garden.
You could go without and make sure that two people help the relative up and down the stairs.
Sometimes, the elderly relative will not appreciate having to be helped everywhere and they might want to keep their independence.
If this is the case, and the stairs are not too steep, then you should think about getting a ramp installed.
You could even make the ramp yourself and it can be portable.
Just make sure that there are lips on either side of the ramp, so that it doesn't more when someone stands on it.
You should also make sure that the surface of the ramp is covered with anti-slip tape so that the relative doesn't slip.
Grip tape will be especially beneficial during the winter months when it is icy and shoes can get wet when moving from one surface to another.
This is not something that is out of the ordinary.
For many families, it is easier for them to go to the relatives home to see them, rather than have them visit, especially if they are sick or they have problems with mobility.
However, there are times throughout the year when it might be better for the relative to come to you.
They might want to get out of the house for a bit, or they might want to visit for Christmas, or a special occasion.
When this happens, you need to make sure that they are safe in your home because you would feel terrible if they came out of their house to have a nice time and then ended up in hospital.
If you are thinking of inviting an elderly relative to your home and you want to adapt it for them, then read ahead for some inexpensive tips for making the home safe.
Handrails Some elderly people might have trouble getting up and down stairs.
If you have a bannister on your stairs, then they should be able to get up and down quite safely.
However, some people might benefit from having an extra rail on the stairs so that they can use both hands to ease themselves up.
This might mean some drilling into the wall, to install the handrail but you can leave it there after they have gone and it will be there for next time.
Most mobility handrails are white in color and they are made out of wood, but if you want one that fits in with the design of your house, then look into getting a rail especially made.
If you do this, allow for the extra time to have it made and installed and keep note that it might cost a bit more money.
But, if it fits in with the design of the house, then it will be worth the extra money.
Exterior To get to the house, the relative will have to navigate the exterior of the house.
Most people forget about the outside of the house when they are adapting the home.
However, a lot of injuries could happen before the relative has even entered the home.
Therefore, you will have to look into adapting the outside as well.
If you have a lot of stairs leading up to the property, you might have to install freestanding handrails to help the person up the stairs.
You might not want to do this since it will change the entire look of the garden.
You could go without and make sure that two people help the relative up and down the stairs.
Sometimes, the elderly relative will not appreciate having to be helped everywhere and they might want to keep their independence.
If this is the case, and the stairs are not too steep, then you should think about getting a ramp installed.
You could even make the ramp yourself and it can be portable.
Just make sure that there are lips on either side of the ramp, so that it doesn't more when someone stands on it.
You should also make sure that the surface of the ramp is covered with anti-slip tape so that the relative doesn't slip.
Grip tape will be especially beneficial during the winter months when it is icy and shoes can get wet when moving from one surface to another.