Parent Proofing the Home
Excerpted from Parent Care: A Survival Guide for Adult Children of Aging Parents

If your aging parent wants and is able to stay at home, you will need to adapt your parent’s home to meet his or her changing needs to ensure his or her safety. Here are some key factors and strategies to consider.

Accessibility:
Can your parent enter and exit the home without assistance? As it becomes more difficult for your parent to reach and bend, are the household items frequently used within easy reach? Here are some ideas for making items more accessible:
If possible, purchase appliances that are more user friendly:
• side-by-side refrigerator
• self-cleaning oven
• cooktop with automatic shut off if pot becomes too hot
• front controls on stove and range

If your parent uses a wheelchair, you may need to reorganize and renovate his/her living space:
• Most wheelchairs require 32” clearance through hallways and doorways
• Remove doors or replace with ones that have swing clear hinges
• Remove thresholds at doorways and install ramps wherever needed
• Lower counters
• Redesign the bathroom for wheelchair access

Mobility:
If your parent lives in a multi-level residence:
• Install a chair lift on the stairs so he or she can move easily between floors
• Or rearrange so all necessary rooms—bedroom, bathroom, kitchen,
living room—are on one floor

If your parent’s mobility is extremely limited:
• Consolidate several necessary functions—cooking, dining, watching TV, or visiting with company—in a small area (one room)

Safety:
Being vulnerable to falls is another common problem your aging parent may have living alone. Your parent’s home needs to be free from physical hazards:

Here are some suggestions:

Remove:
• scatter rugs
• any furniture or lamps that can easily be knocked over
• electric cords that are frayed or run across the floor
• shag carpeting
• slippery flooring
• clutter in walkways