Skip to main content

5 Simple Things to Make Your Parents Home More Age in Place Friendly

Be Proactive in 64 Minutes and for Under $64

Photo Courtesy of https://www.newspressnow.com


Millions of Americans will be traveling this holiday season to visit family.  Many of us will be returning to our childhood home where our parents continue to live.  Our parents want to remain in their home and the longer we can keep them there, the better it is for their mental and physical health.  I put together a short list that anyone can do in an hour and it costs under $64 total.

These 5 things are meant for everyday people who do not have power tools.  You can do all these 5 with a short order from Target.  Item numbers are below.

1) Throw Rugs = tripping hazard

If you see a throw rug, remove it.  If your parents insist on keeping the throw rug, you can use this grip tape to secure the throw rug down on all edges.

$6.99

https://www.target.com/p/rug-tape-grip-neutral-mohawk-home/-/A-11029310#lnk=sametab


2)  Falls happen in bathrooms.

Again, secure the rugs if there are any, use this one as it is specific for bathrooms.  A good mat with suction cups in the shower is important.  Showers become very slippery and this is a hazard for older adults.

$9.29

https://www.target.com/p/36-34-x17-34-waffle-weave-tub-mat-ivory-popular-bath-popular-home/-/A-84083038#lnk=sametab


3) Kitchen organizing

Move things to lower shelves so they are easily accessible, we do not want them climbing up for things.  Ask them what they cook and use regularly or may want to use and bring it down for them.   Spices tend to fall a lot and roll and that can create a tripping hazard or fall hazard when they bend over to pick it up.  Try using this organizer, it can help prevent that and fits in a corner to not take up too much space.

$13.39

https://www.target.com/p/idesign-twillo-stadium-corner-spice-rack-clear/-/A-81645676#lnk=sametab


4) Make sure there are clear walkways, remove tripping hazards, small items and electrical cords.  Throwing the items away might cause issues, so grab an organizing bin and put it near somewhere they sit down, so they have access to it sitting down without having to lean over.  You can use zip ties to quickly organize electrical cords or help secure them to furniture to keep them out of the way.  Do not tighten them all the way down, leave some slack in case they need to be removed later, it is easier to cut them if there is slack in the zip tie.  You can buy zip ties here  

$3.99

https://www.target.com/p/blue-ridge-tools-40pc-cable-ties/-/A-78591372#lnk=sametab


5) Bring in shelving to minimize having them bending over. Use this small shelf to put items near waist level to help them avoid bending over.

 

$30

https://www.target.com/p/3-tier-wire-shelving-brightroom/-/A-83961117?preselect=83500065#lnk=sametab

 

The best way to lead off the conversation is to show that you support them living at home and you want to help them be proactive on issues that might create challenges for them.  "(Mom) or (Dad), I want to make it safe for you guys to stay here, so I got a couple things that will help make your life easier."   Good luck!  

 

Disclaimer: Target did not sponsor or pay me for this article, I chose Target as they are one of the more common stores with all the items reasonably priced.



Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

How Scammers Target Seniors Advice on how to avoid being scammed       I have older parents that live alone and they often call me to tell me about how someone called them to get their credit card number or asked them for their social security number and they refused.  Many older adults today are wary of scammers targeting them, they are a large demographic that controls a lot of money as a group and people with bad intentions know this and see this as an opportunity.  They bet on the numbers game, meaning that they will call 100 people and if they get one, then they have accomplished their mission.  Communicating what we hear or personal experiences to others are absolutely key to preventing the next senior from being scammed, we need to keep our older parents safe.  If you are reading this and have a family member that has been a victim or intended victim, please share your story in the comments below.   I am a huge advocate for keeping se...
Read more
  Daily Check-ins on Seniors Help Improve Their Health Adult children are balancing three main pillars of their life constantly, where each one by itself can consume the majority of a day.  Career, family and social life are the ever-shifting pillars that require attention each day. However, each of these pillars of our lives has subcategories within them that are difficult to manage routinely.  For example, raising a new family with children consumes a majority of the adult child's life now, often sacrificing social life to make up for the insufficient amount of time in a day to get kids to sports activities.  Within the family pillar also lies our parents or older adult family members that increasingly need our help with time.  We as adult children often let this portion slip from our priorities, forgetting to check-in on seniors, not because we are bad people but because often times with young children in our new family, we prioritize the young members over...
Read more
  How to Select Elder Care 101 A Guide to Selecting Home Care in Arlington County and Fairfax County Understanding The Stage of Care You May Need There are three types of home care, or sometimes referred to as elder care, offered in Northern Virginia and they go from a fully independent older adult to one that is bed ridden. I am outlining in the first section the stages below and some guidance to understand where the needs for your parent may be.  In the second section, I outline the options for early stage care also known as companion care. Companion Care : This is the stage where the older adult is fully capable of coming and going as they please.  Families are concerned that the older adult may be alone for too long but there is no concern of them not returning and they can cook for themselves, eat by themselves and in most cases they still drive.  This is the earliest stage of care and typically for older adults who live alone, this is the first form of care an ...
Read more