Meaningful Modifications to Make to Your Parent’s Home to Help Them Deal with Balance Problems

By superadmin | September 13, 2017 |

Balance problems are extremely common among elderly adults, but they can be treacherous. These balance problems, whether they are due to arthritis, joint strength and flexibility issues, dizziness, or other complications, put your senior at serious risk of suffering a fall. The Centers for Disease Control reports that more than 29 million older adults experience a fall each year, making these falls a leading cause of death and the leading cause of non-fatal injuries among older adults. As a family caregiver, taking the steps to help your parent cope effectively with their balance problems is one of the most important things that you can do to reduce their risk, protect their safety, and keep them functioning throughout their later years. There are many things that you can do to help them improve their body in a way that will support better balance, but this is not the only thing that you should be thinking of. Creating a safe environment for them is also critical to ensure that they can continue to live the lifestyle that they desire while avoiding falls.

Some meaningful modifications that you can make to your parent’s home to help them deal with balance problems include:

Add grab bars and handrails throughout the home.
Consider a stairlift that will help them to get up and down stairs safely.
Remove furniture that is very lightweight or that is on wheels so your parent does not attempt to use these for balance.
Raise the toilet to reduce the distance that they will need to stand or sit to use the toilet.
Consider adding rails to their bed and equip their bedroom with a toilet chair to minimize the distance that they need to walk to use the bathroom at night.
Add slip-resistant floor coverings to the bathroom and kitchen, as well as any areas with slick flooring, to provide more grip.
Replace doors and drawers with “easy open” versions that do not require your parent to exert much effort to open them.

Starting senior care for your aging parent can be one of the best decisions that you make for them in the course of your caregiver journey. A senior home care services provider can be with your parent on a customized schedule to ensure that they have access to all of the care, support, and assistance that they need while still fostering a sense of independence and keeping you at the front of their care routine. Through a highly personalized set of services, this care provider can address your parent’s individual challenges, limitations, and needs in a way that is right for them. This helps them to stay safe, healthy, comfortable, and happy, and to pursue a lifestyle that is as active, engaged, and fulfilling as possible as they age in place. As a family caregiver this gives you confidence and peace of mind that your parent is getting everything that they need both when you are with them and when you are not able to be.