Membership programs like Friendship at Home mean you’ll never have to worry about leaving your home as your care needs change as you age. It means you’ll never have to say goodbye to your back porch, pets or personal space. It means you can grow older worry-free in the comfort of your own home while knowing quality care is available whenever you need it — for as long as you need it.
But, safely growing older at home requires preparation to ensure you can stay happy and healthy as you age. Annually, falls are reported by one-third of all people over the age of 65, and two-thirds of those who fall will do so again within six months.
Here are our tips for upgrading your home to ensure a lifetime of safely aging in place:
Entrances and Hallways
Making your home wheelchair accessible ensures you can navigate your house if you have a long-term injury or ailment. Installing ramps to entranceways is a great way to be proactive about wheelchair accessibility. Adding a carpet runner and railing to stairways can reduce the chances of slipping, and adding nightlights is a great way to ensure people of all ages can see where they’re going and avoid falls in the night.
Kitchen
Installing a shallow sink with a hands-free faucet can simplify cooking and meal prep. Adding pull-out shelving can also reduce strain when getting items from the back of cabinets. Replacing heavy dishes with lighter alternatives is a great way to ensure your dinnerware is manageable for years to come.
Bathroom
Making bathrooms both beautiful and safe can mean investing in slip-resistant floorings like bathmats and rugs. It also means installing handlebars by the sink, shower and toilet. Installing a walk-in shower or bath with adequate lighting is also an excellent investment for long-term safety and comfort.
Closets and Storage
Keeping clutter to a minimum eliminates the need to clean and reorganize as you age. Including adjustable closet rods and shelving can make navigating closets easier, and installing adequate lighting can help with sight issues.
Our program is the first continuing care at home plan in central Ohio that allows members to age in place while knowing nursing home level care is available whenever they need it. However, membership programs like Friendship at Home are finally making it affordable to grow older in your own home with full nursing-home level care available if and when you need it. The membership program acts like an insurance policy that guarantees everything from cleaning help, personalized home care to companionship and more when you meet eligibility.
If you’re interested in aging in place we’d love to talk! Our program is a great way to ensure a worry-free retirement in the comfort of your own home. Call us at 614-734-2167 to chat.