Senior Visit-ability for Holiday Celebrations
I can't believe it (and I say that every year around this time): Halloween has come and gone and Thanksgiving is already upon us, spiraling into the holiday season. People do a lot of traveling this time of year to visit family, friends and loved ones, which, in and of itself, can be difficult for very young children, seniors and people with disabilities. It can be further frustrating for all parties involved if the destination is not accessible, or "visit-able." According to
Inside Elder Care, visit-ability is a trend that has been gaining more and more support since the mid-1980s. This "movement" seeks to insure that all homes are at least partially accessible to people with mobility impairments.
There are some modifications in every area of your home, inside and out, that can be made to help visitors move about with greater ease. Many of these changes can be temporary or permanent, and can be low cost as well.
Outside, make sure that any areas that people will be walking on or using assistive mobility devices such as a walker, cane, wheelchair or scooter are clear of ice and snow. It's also recommended to have at least one zero-step entry into your home, so those that have physical limitations and cannot navigate stairs can enter your home easily.
Inside your home, you can make some simple alterations throughout most of the living areas to decrease injuries and frustrations, and also create greater ease of navigating throughout the home. Some free and easy changes include removing area rugs and floor mats, and securing thresholds and dividers between hard-surface and soft-surface floors to lower the risk of tripping and falling, and moving any pieces of furniture out of high-traffic areas such as family rooms/living rooms and hallways to provide easier movement and reduce falling risks for those using assistive mobility devices. Some low cost additions to make to your home include purchasing and installing temporary risers to your tables to allow enough leg room and knee clearance for those in wheelchairs; toilet seat lifts, shower benches and railings for the bathroom; and renting or purchasing ramps for step-entry doorways.
Read more about
visitability for seniors and the disabled.