If you’re faced with preparing your home for one or both of your parents, you need a plan.

First, you’ll need to choose the bedroom he/she will stay in. Some important factors in choosing an appropriate room are:

  • How close is it to the bathroom? It should be the closest room in the house. 
  • How easy is it to reach shared spaces like the living room and kitchen? Don’t put Grandma with a walker upstairs. 
  • Does the room have proper furniture to match your loved ones’ physical abilities (or disabilities?) Can it accommodate them?
  • Is the room big enough to allow him/her to maneuver around the furniture, particularly if there is a wheelchair, walker, or cane involved?

You may find that you need to remodel a bit – or a lot. Regardless of your loved one’s physical condition, it’s a good idea to:

  • Reduce clutter around the house
  • Equip the bedroom, closet, and shared spaces with proper lighting (particularly at night: install nightlights or touch lights to make it safer for them to navigate the house after dark)
  • Install lever handles on doors (instead of doorknobs)
  • Install safety rails on beds (if necessary)
  • Install hand rails or pull bars on walls around the bed, armchairs, and toilet
  • Refit the bathroom to accommodate a walk-in or roll-in shower

Also, don’t forget the four-legged members of the family! For example: a small, hyperactive dog may be able to keep up with the kids, but being underfoot can be dangerous for an aging person with limited mobility and/or eyesight. This is an important and often overlooked factor in deciding to take in an aging family member. 

Remember, taking in a new person to live with your family will disrupt the normal flow of daily life – particularly if the person requires special care. Meet as a family FIRST, and discuss the potential impact on your time and routine. Be sure to agree on responsibilities for each member of the family. Doing so will help ease the transition and hopefully prevent strained emotions in the future.

Sourced from ageinplace.com