Have you made any small home changes to make life safer as you get older?

Madmeg

Can I ask those of you with "suction" grabrails in the bath to recommend ones that stay put? We have tried three different makes and all come unstuck.

I wish I could persuade DH to do away with carpet1s throughout - a nightmare to keep clean!

Madmeg this is the one we have in the shower room. It took 2 of us to force it onto the wall, but it has never moved.

LEVERLOC Shower Grab Rails, 43 CM... www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4KFPMXB?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share&tag=gransnetforum-21

Stuck down carpet edge with double-sided adhesive tape.

I have mobility problems, Spinal Stenosis. Outside I use either a mobility scooter or else a powered small wheelchair if I am going on public transport.
In my flat I am able to cope pretty well. I do have a trolley to take anything from the kitchen into the living/dining room next to it. Not only does this ensure that everything arrives safely, but gives me support.

When I had my kitchen re-done a few years back, I tried to make it as accessible as possible. No high shelves, boiling water tap (no need for kettle), induction hobs, corner cupboards have swing out shelves, I do not have to kneel down to find items. Easy to clean, non-slip amtico flooring.

Same in my en-suite. Comfort height loo, non-slip amtico floor, folding seat in my shower, all built-in cupboards (makes cleaning floor so much easier). Bi-fold door on this, so if I did fall, i would not block anybody trying to reach me
In my bathroom which is mainly used by guests, I do have a shower over bath, but that bath is much lower and I have a screw on support handle to assist anyone needing to get into it either for bath or shower. Have a good grab rail at shower end.

Hard floor throughout flat (except in my own bedroom) east to clean, mop up spills of any sort, and safe. I do not climb anywhere for anything.

I have several quite serious medical conditions, but am able to live a totally independent life thanks to all the modern equipment. Alexa is also fixed so that should I have a bad fall I can just call out to that machine either to contact my nearby daughgter or even to call an ambulance.

We recently had to make a few changes at my mother’s house after her knee surgery because the stairs suddenly became a real challenge for her.

For the first few days after the surgery, my brother and I were literally helping carry her up and down the stairs, which obviously was not something we could keep doing long-term. We ended up getting a stairlift installed, along with a wheelchair for longer distances around appointments and recovery.

We also added grab bars in the bathroom and a shower chair so she could bathe more safely without worrying about slipping. Honestly, none of these changes were huge renovations, but together they made a massive difference to her confidence and independence at home.

We honestly could not afford a brand new stairlift at the time, so we looked into used ones instead. I was pretty skeptical in the beginning, but the local dealer we found added a new battery, included a warranty, and the lift ended up working really well for her needs. If anyone around the Philly area is researching options and feeling overwhelmed by the pricing, I can definitely understand that situation.

kittylester

Oldnproud

A small, plug-in night light on the landing, to minimise the risk of anyone accidentally falling down the stairs while making their way to the bathroom in the dark.
This so nearly happened to me while still in my fifties, but I am sure the risk of this sort of thing happening grows with age.

Why do people put landing lights off overnight. We have always left a light on since we had children.

I can't answer for anyone else, but I don't like the landing light on during the night because I like the bedroom as dark as possible. Even with the door fully closed, too much light can be seen for my liking. I suppose that it wouldn't matter if I slept solidly all night, but I don't.

Jennerdysphoria

BED- I bought a lovely rising bed (I can raise the feet end or the head end, or both, with a handset control. I have to be careful to keep the handset nearby as it can easily slip off my narrow single bed. This was because I have difficulty rising from lying down. Not too expensive, from Argos.

BOOKS - I use kindle to avoid accumulating physical books. For academic/specialist books I subscribe to Perlego who have them readable online. To take discards and other clutter away, I use Anglo, who collect from the door.

Out of interest - I've got a friend with a noticeable number of severe health problems and she was commenting to me yesterday that she's had to buy one of these rising beds and she was not very happily telling me yesterday that it's gone wrong on her and she needs a new one - and it's only about 5 years old. Not surprisingly = she's not a happy bunny at the thought of having to replace her bed after only that length of time.

Do you/anyone else have any recommendations on suitable makes of such beds - and what sort of price level to expect to have to pay for a reasonable quality one? As she's late 50's then any bed she buys now should "see her out" so to say - but a bed of that standard looks to have to be replaced several more times over the course of her life. NB; It's a double bed - looks to me like it's a 5' wide one.

We have a beautiful wooden staircase but we have carpeted it in case either of us takes a tumble. Doesn’t look so beautiful but better than breaking your neck !

We have a handrail for the steps up to the front door and same for the garden. Also non slip shower mat. I wear shoes in the house not slippers

Oldnproud

A small, plug-in night light on the landing, to minimise the risk of anyone accidentally falling down the stairs while making their way to the bathroom in the dark.
This so nearly happened to me while still in my fifties, but I am sure the risk of this sort of thing happening grows with age.

Why do people put landing lights off overnight. We have always left a light on since we had children.

Got rid of most of the throw rugs because they complicated floor cleaning. Never have regretted it. I did keep one at the front door entry to wipe feet but am considering removing it since there is a mat just outside.

Ive not rearranged but instead ive downsized from a 3 bedroom house to a new one bedroom apartment for the over 55's.
Its so good, no stairs, huge walk in shower, plugs all higher, fully carpeted and best of all its very warm and i hardly have the heating on and shops on my doorstep.
Highly recommend it.....oh and less cleaning , pure bliss 😊

BED- I bought a lovely rising bed (I can raise the feet end or the head end, or both, with a handset control. I have to be careful to keep the handset nearby as it can easily slip off my narrow single bed. This was because I have difficulty rising from lying down. Not too expensive, from Argos.

BOOKS - I use kindle to avoid accumulating physical books. For academic/specialist books I subscribe to Perlego who have them readable online. To take discards and other clutter away, I use Anglo, who collect from the door.

A small, plug-in night light on the landing, to minimise the risk of anyone accidentally falling down the stairs while making their way to the bathroom in the dark.
This so nearly happened to me while still in my fifties, but I am sure the risk of this sort of thing happening grows with age.

My husband is unsteady on his feet and was becoming increasingly fearful of walking downstairs, so I contacted Adult Social Services and arranged for an extra stair rail to be fitted, which they did free of charge, no questions asked! Now he can go up and down the stairs with no worries.

Floradora9

When we redid our en suite we had a large shower cubicle put it . We were told it was so your helper could get in the shower with you . Never been put to the test so far but it was good for showering two little grand children together.

Aw shucks and there was me thinking it was handy for two people having a shower together - errrrm....not the person themselves and a helper iyswim. But yep....valid point that there would be sufficient room for a helper too....

Also, built-in seats in our extra large shower.

Grab bars in the shower and toilet. One level home - no stairs anywhere inside or out. Higher toilet seats. Non-slip rugs. A stool in our walk-in closet; great for sitting on and putting on socks!

When we redid our en suite we had a large shower cubicle put it . We were told it was so your helper could get in the shower with you . Never been put to the test so far but it was good for showering two little grand children together.

Our local council fitted a bathroom pole by the shower, a bar inside the shower, and a help bar inside the front door, all free of charge. We are owner occupiers so count ourselves very lucky to live here. We are not disabled, just a bit old!

I’m in a split level bungalow and have started leaving a light on in the hall outside my bedroom, the bathroom is next door. This was prompted by a friend getting up in the night in complete darkness and falling downstairs (in her house) ending up in a right mess. I have stairs adjoining my bedroom.

A grabber is useful and the showering shoes sound a good idea.

Grab rail at the back door, long, verticle, small children use rails too.

Sliding kitchen shelves (over existing lower shelves) easy access.

Removal of tub, addition of huge shower space, no glass.

Also not safe re wall fixings, which can rip out of walls via the turning force due to the very heavy weight up high

I bought an eddington lambourn butchers block for my kitchen. The castors can lock or unlock to easily roll it

The shelves underneath are very strong and I stand my many heavy pots underneath, my pressure cookers , my wonderful le creuset etc I like and use these pots regularly and will never get rid of them. Fetching something heavy from low down is much safer. I do not keep anything heavy up high, for which I would need to use steps

I installed a grab handle in my shower which is very handy.
It kept falling off at first so I stuck it on with superglue which has worked well.

Greyduster

“I put all my cast iron pans on top of my kitchen cupboards so I have to stand on tipto to reach them and ^persuade them to come down, catching them as they do^”

Frankly, fit or not, that sounds bl***y dangerous!!

Yep....I had some of these cast iron saucepans back along - and they are indeed heavy and I wouldnt be trying to get them down from a height at the best of times......