Is Your Home Safe for A Senior Living with Parkinson's?

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) presents obstacles to everyday tasks due to its degenerative symptoms. However, living with Parkinson’s doesn’t have to be difficult for your seniors. With the right home modifications and personal care assistance, your senior can maintain their independence and continue living comfortably at home. If you want to ensure that your senior can carry on living their best life, consider improving their space by incorporating the following accessibility features.

How to Modify Your Home to Be Accessible

Creating a home that is more accessible may sound daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. With simple updates to your home, you can ensure that your parent is comfortable and safe. In this article, we go into the details of the different areas of the home and what you can modify to help your parent live comfortably despite the challenges posed by Parkinson’s.  

• Bedroom: It is important to keep all spaces clear; this means placing nightstands close to the bed and removing clutter. To provide assistance with mobility issues, you can get a hospital bed or install bed rails to prevent falls. It may also be ideal to move the bedroom downstairs to the first floor if your senior’s room is on the upper level of their home.
• Bathroom: The bathroom can be a hazardous place. To maintain a safe home, use non-slip mats to prevent slips and falls. You can also include a shower chair to prevent falls and an extended handheld shower head for easy access.
• Kitchen: To ensure the safety of your senior, it is good to keep all daily-use items within reach. This will decrease the need to bend or reach for their kitchen utensils or ingredients. You can also store kitchen items in low pull-out drawers to prevent clutter and keep everything accessible.
• Living room: Help your aging parents by making the living room an open space. Remove all areas of clutter and create pathways that allow movement and reduce the risk of injury.
• Backyard: Install a ramp for easier access to your home. Remove uneven surfaces and get rid of items in the yard that might cause trips or falls. For accessing the outdoor area at night, motion sensor lights are a great way to increase visibility.

5 Ways to Adapt your Home for Seniors with Parkinson’s

The symptoms of aging can make navigating the home difficult for anyone. Seniors with Parkinson’s disease face greater difficulty due to the deterioration of their strength and balance. You can help them overcome some of these issues by making sure their home is safe, comfortable, and easy to maintain.
Need ideas on how to adapt your home for seniors living with Parkinson’s? Read on to learn more about some of our suggestions.

• Install grab rails: With the hazard of tripping or falling due to decreased mobility, it is important to install grab rails to help your senior get around. They are beneficial in areas such as bathrooms, hallways, stairways, and bedrooms.
• Remove mobility hazards: Seniors with PD may have difficulty walking. To prevent any issues, remove hazards such as rugs and create clear pathways throughout the home.
• Introduce assistive devices: If you have multiple floors in your home, it may be best to install a stair lift to avoid injury. You can also introduce assistive devices such as a walker, cane, or mobility scooter.
• Remove clutter: By keeping all spaces clear, you can greatly reduce the risk of injury due to a slip and fall.
• Consider a single level home: PD can make it difficult for your senior to move around a large home. With everything on one level, you can reduce the risk of injuries and make it easier to care for your senior.

Seniors with Parkinson’s can Benefit from Respite Care - We can Show you How!

Facing Parkinson’s can take a toll on your senior. With mobility obstacles in their way, it can be difficult to get back to the level of comfort they need to feel their best. However, there are various ways you can help. Home Instead Hamilton provides expert home care services through our highly trained and knowledgeable personal support workers . Our home care assistants offer services uniquely tailored to your seniors needs. Whether your aging parent needs companionship, cooking, light housekeeping, or Parkinson’s help, we can create a home care plan that is right for your situation. Connect with our experts to learn more about the benefits of in-home respite care.

Call us at (905) 521-5500 to schedule a no-obligation, in-home consultation. Learn more about the compassionate, quality senior care we deliver every day to families in Hamilton Mountain, Downtown Hamilton, Rosedale, Kings Forest, Binbrook, Meadowlands, Ancaster, and Dundas.