The coronavirus pandemic began to take hold of society back in March. It caused many Canadians to understandably fear for the lives of their elderly loved ones. Seniors, as we all know, are most susceptible to the adverse affects of the virus. As a result, many people decided it was best to remove their aging parents from their long-term care facilities. Such residences have been ravaged by COVID-19.
Aging in place, however, isn’t all that easy for older adults. It’s important that the homes they live in are properly equipped for senior living. Is yours?
A lack of preparation does not a comfortable situation make.
If we’re being honest, most of us do not put a lot of thought into what life will be like for our parents when they become elderly. We know that, if all goes well, they will live well into their senior years. But we forget that life will be pretty different for them with each passing year. What should be done to prepare?
According to Ohio’s DeVol Design.Build.Remodel, one of the big factors in a less than satisfactory aging in place experience is not being prepared. “In fact, it is one of the largest barriers to aging in place,” affirms their website, “Industry expert Louis Tennenbaum says that most people don’t prepare, because they don’t know they should or what they should do. Also, that when they do prepare, they’re not really preparing well enough.”
The design of your house may not be particularly accommodating.
Do you have long winding staircases? Is the front porch at a relatively high elevation and without a ramp? Are the bathrooms in the home narrow and cramped? For an older person, who requires the use of a mobility solution, such scenarios can be very harrowing. Such accessibility devices as stair lifts, porch lifts and widened doorways can all come in handy for the respective abovementioned situations.
Carol Pardue-Spears of Family Matters In-Home Care explains that housing barriers require attention to planning when they are homes to elderly people. “Affordable and diverse options must also be available, including co-housing, villages, and cottage homes,” she writes, “Within these homes must be universal design features to accommodate all ages and abilities to make life easier, keep people healthier, and provide needed support.”
It can be quite costly to renovate your home.
“Financial issues also pose a challenge for elderly people to be able to live in their own homes independently,” states ResearchFeatures.com, “A person’s financial status will affect whether they can access support and the nature of that support.”
Here’s the truth. It is very costly to renovate your home! Are you thinking of adding a wheelchair ramp or redesigning your bathroom? If you’re considering making such changes, you’re likely in line for spending a pretty penny. At LifeCare Mobility Solutions, we ensure that the cost of accommodating your home for an elderly person with mobility issues is affordable.
If you have any questions about the stair lifts, porch lifts and bathroom modifications offered by LifeCare Mobility Solutions, please don’t hesitate to call us at 416-267-9800 or email us at info@lifecaremobility.ca. You may also contact us by filling out the form on our Contact page!
