Written by Jim McKinley. Visit him at his home, Moneywithjim.org ( jmckinley@moneywithjim.org )
More and more seniors are striving to age in place, to stay in their homes as long as possible. If you are reaching your golden years and hope to stay in your own house, let’s discuss some changes you can make to safely live in your home and reduce the chance of falling.
Change Your Bathroom
One of the most dangerous places in your home is the bathroom. Water and soapy residue combined with a hard, slick surface create a potential falling hazard for anyone of any age. When you are an aging senior, this fall can be especially dangerous, as it can cause debilitating injury and reduce your independent quality of life.
Thankfully, there are some changes you can make to your bathroom to help reduce the risk of a fall. You can install grab bars on the wall to offer stability to avoid slipping in your shower. You can install a walk-in shower that has no step-up or curb to avoid tripping when stepping into the shower. Invest in quality no-slips mats to lay on the floor and get rid of bulky throw rugs. With a few modifications, you can make your bathroom a safe room in your home.
Change your Home Layout
In addition to your bathroom, your entire home has areas that increase your risk of falling. Loose cords near walkways, throw rugs on the floor, clutter on the floor, and improperly placed furniture are all potential tripping hazards. You may not think that the design of your home is important to your safety, but having your furniture cluttered makes it more difficult for you to maneuver. Especially if you need a walking aid, it is important to have clear spaces to get around. You may want to consider hiring an interior designer or virtual design assistant to help you assess your space and offer solutions to make your home more accessible. Ensure that you have clear, well-lit paths in your home to reduce your chances of falling.
Change Your Lifestyle
Modifying your home to make it a safer environment is important, but it’s also beneficial to make changes to your lifestyle as well. It can be tempting to slow down in your golden years, but slowing down too much can result in a weak and unhealthy body. Strength and balance are important to help keep you healthy and reduce your risk of falling. According to Everyday Health, you don’t need to start training for a marathon or powerlifting heavy weights to strengthen your body. Find a low-impact exercise that you enjoy, like walking or swimming. Classes like yoga and tai chi help to improve your balance. This is a great opportunity to grab a friend to join you, giving you a fun social interaction while improving your strength and balance. If you’re currently enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, you may be eligible for the SilverSneakers program. Membership gives you access to many fitness centers around the country.
Change Your Mindset
The last change you need to make to safely age in place is that of your mindset. According to the New York Times, the fear of falling is a dangerous cycle, causing you to do less out of fear of a fall, resulting in a weaker body more susceptible to a fall. Your mindset is an important factor in determining your quality of life. Just because you are older does not mean you are not still capable of doing the same things you have always done. Adapting a positive mindset not only improves your quality of life, but it can actually impact your physical health as well.
Change your home, change your lifestyle, and change your mindset. You will be able to safely live out many more years to come in the comfort of your home.
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