Kids pushed me to “age-proof” the house a bit

[PoundNoteCollector]

Turned 70 this year and my grown-up kids suddenly decided my house is full of hazards I apparently can’t see. We had a bit of a laugh about it, then sat down and worked out a quick, low-budget way to make things safer and more convenient for me.

No builders, no ripping walls out – just sensible little additions and swaps that I can actually live with. So far it’s been surprisingly practical. If anyone’s thinking along the same lines and wants to know what we did, feel free to message me or say and I can jot the ideas down.

 

[Aunt Bea]

Please share, safety tips are good for people of all ages!

I’m better at giving advice than taking it, I still haven’t gotten rid of my Persian throw rugs as the doctor and my family have advised.

 

[hollydolly]

Turned 70 this year and my grown-up kids suddenly decided my house is full of hazards I apparently can’t see. We had a bit of a laugh about it, then sat down and worked out a quick, low-budget way to make things safer and more convenient for me.

No builders, no ripping walls out – just sensible little additions and swaps that I can actually live with. So far it’s been surprisingly practical. If anyone’s thinking along the same lines and wants to know what we did, feel free to message me or say and I can jot the ideas down.

I turned 70 myself this year... and I'm relatively fit and young for my age .. but I had already prepared several years ago with safety measures...

Shower and bath rails.. screwed into the walls not suction...

No slip rugs especially in the kitchen or top of the stairs...

I wear slip on sketchers around the house instead of backless slippers.. so as not to slip out of them.., backless slippers, shoes, crocs, flip flops etc are all a disaster waiting to happen.. especially going up or downstairs..

2 bannisters either side of the stairs..rather than just one ..

I have a very high step down from my kitchen back door to the garden, so I bought a Half step.. ..

I have lower lumber issues and I found by going down the high step , it was jarring my back... so I got the half step, I;ve had it for years now.. and it really made a big difference..

 

[jujube]

What we did for my mom when she started getting unsteady was put grab bars everywhere she had to turn a corner, inside and outside the front door, and all over the bathroom.

She absolutely refused to give up the throw rugs and mats, though. There's only so much you do ......

 

[Gardenlover]

I've tripped on throw rugs even when I was much younger, I have never been a fan of them for this reason.

 

[Dr.Colosso]

What we did for my mom when she started getting unsteady was put grab bars everywhere she had to turn a corner, inside and outside the front door, and all over the bathroom.

She absolutely refused to give up the throw rugs and mats, though. There's only so much you do ......

My brother uses bricks in a former bookshelf, so she can hold that while walking from her chair to the toilet and lol he put an elastic on the door, so it closes automatically and the cold doesn't come in. Handles, bars like you have with ballet. She can't wash her hair. We did it yesterday. Bought a plastic thing you can blow up and it works like what a hair dresser has. Worked great.

 

[GoodEnuff]

Got rid of most of the throw rugs because they complicated floor cleaning. Never have regretted it. I did keep one at the front door entry to wipe feet but am considering removing it since there is a mat just outside, too.

 

[Jazzy1]

Raised Toilet Seat with Arms

 

[DebraMae]

Just as @hollydolly said, I no longer wear backless slippers around the house. I found that I was sliding my feet more than actually picking them up and taking steps. Several times I caught the edge of a rug when I was "sliding".