As people age, they often move into smaller and smaller homes. This can be a difficult adjustment, but it’s essential to make your home as comfortable as possible for you as you age. There are many items seniors should have around the house to make life easier and more comfortable. This article will look at some of those items and why they need to have them in their homes.
Contents
Cell Phone
It may seem common sense that a senior living alone should have a landline phone, but as more people move to cell phones as their primary means of communication, this is increasingly less common. Seniors who live alone need a way to contact emergency services in an emergency or if they fall and can’t get up on their own. Having a cell phone gives them a way to make that call anywhere.
Shower Seat
Seniors often find themselves having difficulty standing in the shower for as long as they need to. Taking showers can be draining and exhausting if you don’t have the energy or balance required to stand up for that long. A shower seat allows seniors to sit down and lean back while still getting clean. This is easier on their joints and will enable them to take longer showers without tiring as quickly.
Floor Mats
Sometimes, seniors find themselves slipping and falling in the bathroom or anywhere else with a tile floor or linoleum. They need to have something to put under their feet while walking around so they can have more traction and not slip. Bathroom floor mats are an inexpensive solution to save seniors from a dangerous falls, leading to broken bones or other injuries.
Bedside Lamp
Many older people find themselves having trouble seeing at night when they want something out of their bedside drawer or need to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. It’s a good idea for seniors to have a bedside lamp on their nightstands so they don’t have to turn on the overhead lights and disturb other people in the house when they get up at night. They can just turn on their lamp and see without disturbing other people.
Flashlight
Many seniors end up falling or injuring themselves in the middle of the night. They need to be able to see where they’re going, especially if it’s dark outside. Having a flashlight nearby means that they can easily find their way around without hurting themselves and is a great fall-back option if you can’t find your light switch.
Reusable Water Bottle
As people age, their thirst mechanism doesn’t work as effectively, and they often don’t think to drink enough water. Seniors should have a reusable water bottle with them at all times so they can make sure to drink more water each day. This is especially important in hot weather when seniors quickly get dehydrated and need to remain hydrated.
Smoke Alarm
Older people often fall asleep earlier than younger people and don’t hear smoke alarms going off in the middle of the night. This can be a big problem if there is a fire and they cannot get out of their homes safely without being woken up by an alarm. Seniors should have a smoke alarm in their rooms and one near the kitchen where fires are most likely to start. They should also know how to test their alarms every month, just like everyone else.
Vegetable Peeler
Many people find it difficult to peel vegetables when they’ve lost some control in their hands. It becomes even more challenging for seniors with arthritis, weak hands, or poor grip strength in their hands to peel vegetables without causing themselves pain. A vegetable peeler can make this task easier for them and cut back on the amount of time they spend cooking for themselves.
Pill Dispenser
Seniors often forget to take their pills at the same time every day. If they miss a dose, it can make them sick to their stomach or cause other medical problems that they don’t want. A pill dispenser can help seniors remember how many pills they need to take each day and at what times. They’ll never have to worry about taking too many or not enough again.
Waterproof Mattress Pad
Older people often find themselves getting up multiple times a night to go to the bathroom. This can disturb their sleep and make them tired during the day. Other times seniors may not wake up when they have to go, and accidents can happen. So seniors should have a mattress pad on their bed so they don’t have to worry about those accidents occurring while they’re sleeping. They can continue getting restful sleep without having to change their entire sleeping schedule around them.
Conclusion
Seniors should make sure they have all of the items on this list in their home if they don’t already. Most of these are small investments that can save them from a lot of pain and discomfort down the road. They can help improve their quality of life by making it easier to continue living independently for as long as possible. So keep these items in mind next time you are out shopping with the senior in your life.
