5 Ways to Create A Safer Home for the Elderly
Living & Lifestyle4 minutes read
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6346 views
Do you live with your parents or in-laws? Or are you planning to move out (or have already moved out) after getting married? Either way, each of us probably has a loved one who is or is becoming an elderly soon. By 2020, one in five residents will be aged 65 years and above, according to the HDB. Luckily, caring for his or her well-being can be a breeze with these elderly-friendly features.
Recessed Display Niche
Photo: Unity Design Consultancy
Loose ornaments or delicate accessories such as vases and ceramic figurines are lovely choices when it comes to adding character to your house, but they can pose a hazard if bumped off a table. Instead, keep these items flush with a surface and protected or store them in a display cabinet. We like the former option (pictured above) for its classy, understated look. It maintains a clear path for the elderly too!
Extra and more consistent lighting
Photo: Ken Home Design
The eyes of a senior person receive less light, hindering vision. In order to perceive objects with the same clarity as a younger person, an elderly needs as much as thrice the amount of light. Additional light fittings such as table lamps and pendant lights offer not just sufficient illumination but also a cheeky swap in mood when called upon! But be sure to keep a steady brightness between rooms as older eyes also take more time to adjust to different conditions.
A bathroom with the right grips
Photo: HDB
With floors that are often wet and slippery, it’s no wonder the bathroom is one of the most precarious places for an elderly. In 2014, the HDB rolled out the Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) programme to residents aged 65 years and above. Under the scheme, households with eligible applicants can get anti-slip coating for two bathrooms and up to 10 grab bars for each toilet.
For more information on the EASE programme, click here.
Everything within easy reach
Photo: tapwarehouse.com
A reduced mobility means the elderly may have troubles performing certain tasks that we brush off as rote. Fortunately, with just a few tweaks to your furnishings, you can create a perfectly livable space for the elderly. These include installing a lower peephole for your door, choosing modular shelves and wardrobes that can be easily customised to a comfortable height and outfitting your kitchen with a tap sporting a pull-out hose.
Live near your parents, get incentives
Okay, technically, this isn’t a feature in the house, but no Singaporean worth his or her salt would pass up a good offer, right? If you’re a first-time buyer of a resale flat that’s in the same town or within 2km of your parents’ home, you can benefit from a subsidy of $20,000 under the Proximity Housing Grant (PHG) programme by the HDB. Living near your parents means that they can more easily enjoy the company of their grandkids and that you can better take care of your parents as they age.
For more information on the PHG programme, click here.
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