Looking into the different home adaptations for elderly is an important part of caring for an ageing loved one. These adaptations don’t just help elderly individuals live a more comfortable life as they grow older, but can help them regain their independence and do more on their own.
There are many different ways you can adapt a home to make it more suitable for ageing loved ones, including adding specialised furniture to help with mobility, like riser recliner chairs.
At Opera Beds, we’ve helped thousands of elderly individuals make their home more suited for this next chapter of their lives. Our team of experts are on hand to find the perfect solution. Want to learn more? Get in touch with us today.
6 Home Adaptations For Seniors
As you get older, your home might start to become ill-suited for living independently. This could be down to anything from a change in your mobility to having a house with lots of stairs. Rather than moving to somewhere new or going into a care home, you can instead adapt your current property to make it more suitable.
Grab Rails
Knowing that a grab rail is there for support can not just increase the confidence of elderly individuals, but can promote safe and independent living. Grab rails are just one of the many home adaptations for independence that can be installed in various rooms around the house, including:
- Next to the toilet, bathtub or shower in the bathroom
- Along both sides of the staircase
- Strategically located throughout long hallways
- Near entrances and exits
You can browse our range of grab bars on our care bed accessories page.
Walk-in Shower
Slips and trips are some of the most common concerns for ageing individuals with limited mobility. An accessible bath and walk-in shower - sometimes called a level access shower - offer a safer and more comfortable bathing option. The absence of a curb or high threshold means elderly individuals don’t have to step up or lift their legs high to access the shower; many of these showers also come with slip-resistant flooring to minimise the risk of slipping on wet surfaces.
Riser Recliners
Choosing the best chairs for the elderly is important not just for increasing mobility, but also for improving comfort and pain relief. Riser recliners offer more support than regular armchairs, allowing ageing individuals to find the perfect position to suit their needs. Designed with a powered lifting function to raise the user from sitting to standing, these chairs offer increased mobility and independence. Similarly, the reclining function reduces pressure from the back and legs - something particularly beneficial for sufferers of arthritis or sciatica.
Improved Lighting
Lighting is a crucial but often forgotten feature of the home. For elderly individuals with poor eyesight, improving the visibility of their property and ensuring rooms are properly lit is essential to reducing the risk of injury. There are many ways you can improve the lighting in your home, including:
- Switching old lightbulbs with brighter LED bulbs
- Painting dark rooms and furniture a lighter colour
- Adding motion-activated lights in the hallway
- Replacing older switches with ones that are easier to grip
- Installing additional lighting in high-risk rooms like the kitchen
- Having an over the bed reading lamp
Adjustable Beds
While home adaptations for elderly are usually focused in high-risk rooms like the kitchen and bathroom, adjustable beds can also help ageing individuals stay safe and mobile in their bedroom. With adjustable back and leg rests, these beds allow users to elevate their body for additional support - all while making it easier to get in and out of bed. Adjustable beds can also improve circulation and reduce any pain caused by arthritis or oedema.
Profiling Beds
Similarly, profiling beds can make mobility easier for the elderly in their bedroom. The key difference between profiling care beds and adjustable beds is the height adjustment feature; profiling beds can be completely raised and lowered to allow those with limited mobility, poor balance or weakness to safely get in and out of bed after setting it at their desired height. They also have a profiling mattress platform which allows you to sit upright in bed, elevate your legs and quickly get more comfortable without needing assistance.
Elevation Kit
If your elderly loved one is struggling to get in and out of bed, but do not require a profiling bed for care needs, an elevation kit can make life easier. The system is compatible with our Motion and Motion Divan Adjustable Bed Bases and provides an extra 30cm to the height of the base. This helps ease accessibility and encourages independence for those with limited mobility or poor balance.
What Support Is Available For Home Adaptations?
Looking into home adaptations to help your senior relatives live more comfortably can sometimes feel like a minefield. Fortunately, there are lots of ways you can get help with adaptations to your home.
Local Council Support
You can apply for a free home assessment from your local council who will work with you to see which adaptations might be best for your property. An occupational therapist will visit your home and ask you questions about what you are having difficulty with - this could be anything from having a shower to opening your cupboards. Your council should pay for any adaptation that costs less than £1,000.
Disabled Facilities Grants
A Disabled Facilities Grant can help you with the cost of larger home adaptations.
These grants are means-tested and typically have an upper limit on how much you can get to pay for these changes. They’re also based on separate criteria from council assessments, meaning you can apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant even if you have been told you don't have eligible care needs. Similarly, applying for these grants won’t affect any benefits you claim.
Home Improvement Agencies (HIAs)
These not-for-profit organisations can help elderly owner-occupiers or tenants of privately rented accommodation to adapt or improve their homes. Home Improvement Agencies offer practical support with things like getting estimates for adaptations, arranging a survey or helping you access financial help. You can search for an HIA in your area online.
Opera Beds Support
Our friendly team is also on hand to help with adaptations to your home. From your initial enquiry to delivery and beyond, we offer a professional and passionate service with your individual needs at the forefront of everything we do. Our network of highly skilled engineers will install your bed or chair in the room of your choice, making sure you’re confident in using your new furniture before we go. If you need us to, our team can also remove your old furniture before installing your new one.
Below, some of our amazing customers share their thoughts on the Opera Beds service from Trustpilot:
“We've had a very difficult 4 weeks navigating my father's complex care needs and so it was such a huge relief to find this company - they have been kind and helpful from start to finish. After our initial trial bed wasn't right for him, they arranged to collect it and to refund and replace it with a smaller bed that better meets his needs. They also arranged to deliver to a different address as he has had a change of care setting. From the first call handler to the delivery driver - everyone has been kind and helpful, which is so important when you are likely to be dealing with people in difficulty like us. Thank you Opera Beds!”
[Melanie Mackintosh, 21st May 2024]
“We opted for the delivery and installation option and couldn’t be happier! The communication regarding the time of delivery was excellent. The two installers were incredibly polite and considerate (especially as someone was working from home online at the time) - you would hardly have known they were there! They did a wonderful job! The bed was exactly as described and the first night’s sleep was a delight!”
[Sarah, 2nd July 2024]
Regain your Independence with Opera Beds
Opera Beds are specialists in home adaptations for elderly, whether that’s adjustable beds or riser recliner chairs. Reach out to our expert team and see how we can help your elderly loved ones live comfortably and independently in their home today.
You can also find out more about our products with a free 20-30 minute consultation; chat with our experts by phone or virtual video call, or book an in-person consultation at our showroom.
