The UK is an aging population, with the number of over-85s anticipated to increase to well over two and half million in the next 25 years. Though the population is aging, there is a contradictory decrease in requirements for social care support, as more elderly people are able to live independently than ever before.
One of the key drivers for this, outside of improved healthcare, is increased options for accessibility – including home-based accessibility measures. But exactly how important are they?
Make Their Lives Easier
The simplest, and perhaps most significant of benefits that accessible housing can have to an elderly person is the convenience it brings. In older age, many things can get harder as a result of physical decline. By altering the home to accommodate for these bodily changes, elderly people can find it much easier to carry out certain tasks.
As a key example, climbing stairs can become prohibitively difficult as joints weaken and arthritis begins to take hold. Installing a chair lift can help the elderly access the upstairs of their home with ease, and without too much physical pain or difficulty.
The same can be said for installing railings and grips in the bathroom, to make using the toilet easier and more stable overall. There are numerous other interventions you can make for ease of movement around the house, from ramps to wider hallways.
Prevent Accidents and Injuries
Another vital benefit to introducing accessibility measures to an elderly person’s house is the prevention of accidents and injuries. The home can be a dangerous place, if not altered to accommodate the specific needs of the older individual. For example, the risk of falling is much higher for an older person as a result of stiffness and instability; falls are a leading cause of injury in people of pension age, with half of those over 80 suffering at least one fall a year.
Some accessibility interventions are specifically formulated to reduce the likelihood of injury, such as non-slip mats in bathrooms and grab rails for more stability throughout the house. The danger of tripping, slipping or falling follows elderly people outside the house though, and they cannot always be monitored or protected in the event of coming across a hazard. As such, it can be important to know who to contact, from care workers to personal injury professionals, in the event of an accident that wasn’t their fault.
Preserve Their Independence
Lastly, making an elderly person’s home more accessible can have a profound effect on them in ways other than physical safety and practical ability. Having an accessible home can work wonders for their independence, and their sense of dignity.
Often, the only limitations to an elderly person are imposed upon them by their body, which simply won’t act the way their mind would like it to. As such, making small quality-of-life changes can allow them to continue to do things of their own volition and accord, and allow them to maintain their independence.
