As people grow older, they have a harder time performing daily tasks like cooking, housekeeping, and personal care. Even though it gets more challenging, most seniors don’t easily accept the idea of moving in with their children, a relative, or relocating to a nursing home or senior living community.
To be able to stay in one’s home is a positive concept and luckily today it’s becoming an achievable lifestyle option. With the latest technology advances, caregiving services, and the involvement of family members, living at home at an older age is becoming a realistic goal for many.
In this article, we look at ways that can help seniors continue living a healthy high-quality life from the comfort of their homes.
VR Technology
Today, technological novelties evoke interest not only in young people. Major technological advances have been made in recent years and have started being used in, for example, elderly care. One of them is VR technology which can be best described as an “experience machine”.
VR treatment services offer meaningful activities where senior care recipients can experience and discover places from all corners of the earth without having to leave the room. Seniors with memory impairments, for instance, are encouraged to look at old photos, listen to music and look at familiar objects so they can engage their minds and better their mood.
Using VR treatment from the comfort of your home can improve physical and mental well-being, stimulate brain activity and positively impact your memory. When given to the elderly, it’s effective and powerful as it can promote socialization, reduce any feelings of loneliness that are common among seniors and help address a wide range of health issues, from dementia to pain management.
Assistive Technology
When the word “home” crosses our minds, we immediately think of comfort, relaxation, and warmth. This, in particular, becomes an important aspect and necessity for elderly people since they want to feel comfortable, and at peace in their surroundings.
They want to manage their day-to-day routines in the best and most convenient way possible and when things get cumbersome, regain their strength and balance with proper sleep and rest. Sleeping well is the number one priority for all seniors as most have chronic illnesses or pains. Therefore, investing in a top-quality bed is a must.
Although there are plenty of options, lift beds for elderly people are undoubtedly the best choice out there. The lift bed is built like a traditional bed fixed with a bottom that is divided into different sections that are controlled by a motor. A head end that can be raised and lowered, so that the whole body, that is, body, neck, and head, can lie at the angle that provides the most comfortable and relieving sleep.
It provides the perfect support to those who have mobility restrictions, lessening muscle strength and bad blood circulation. The lift bed presents a bullet-proof strategy to ensure uninterrupted, enjoyable sleep and improve any breathing difficulties, symptoms of acid reflux, and body pains.
Flooring Modifications
Another important point when wanting to improve the home conditions for older adults is to consider necessary flooring modifications. Start by decluttering the home and removing any unnecessary furniture pieces, or boxes that can cause a senior to trip or fall.
Continue by evaluating the existing floors in the home and replace any carpet that is worn out with a shorter nap. This will prevent the elderly from tripping and make it easier for them to navigate through the home, especially if they use a walker or a wheelchair. Floors made of hardwood, tile, or vinyl provide a smoother maneuvering surface, but they might be more slippery than carpeting.
Since falls are considered to be one of the most serious hazards for older people, which often result in severe injuries, adjustments should be made to avoid such situations. Remove any rugs, cords, and other items that present the most trouble or concern. In addition, repair or replace any bumps, lumps, cracks, or holes in the home’s flooring, sidewalks or doorways.
Lastly, install ramps and other assistive lift technologies if deemed necessary so that the seniors living in this space can move independently while their loved ones feel at peace, knowing the house is a safe and accessible place.
Smart Home Devices
Unlike what many people think, a smart home is not as complicated to achieve. Most smart devices are designed to be easy to use and can make it possible for older people to stay in their homes longer.
Many smart devices can detect and automatically turn off when they’re not used for a certain time. With a stove sensor that senses if the stove gets overheated, you don’t have to worry about a senior forgetting to turn the stove off. This is a smart way to both save energy and reduce the risk of fire.
With smart lighting, your aging parents don’t have to walk around and turn off the lights before they go to bed. Motion sensors connected to smart lighting mean that seniors do not search in the dark for the light button when going to the toilet at night. The lighting turns on automatically when the sensors detect movement, which reduces the risk of someone tripping in the dark and possibly getting hurt.
Final Thoughts
Living at home doesn’t have to be a struggle for aging adults. With the right ideas and solutions, you can make a senior’s home a more aging-friendly place.
Today, there are many assistive technologies, smart devices, and home modifications that can allow seniors to adopt an easygoing lifestyle that will make them safe and happy.
