While people age, they start entering the ability domain of the children. So at that time they need utmost care just like kids. Similarly, they also need a elderly-friendly home design whose modifications are planned to make their life easier.
When people age, their body becomes fragile and weak. They are prone to falling and hurting themselves very often. Thus, it is very important that you keep in mind the plight of the elderly people, while planning your constructions. In India, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation issued guidelines for building homes keeping on mind the elderly. According to the ministry directive, an elderly-friendly home design should have physical specifications like hazard detection systems, constant power back-up, lifts, prominent signage, recreation, and care-giving outlets, etc. along with amenity standards that include round-the-clock medical assistance, transportation assistance, etc.
Major builders, while planning the designs often have the young population in mind which turns out unsustainable for seniors. The homes for the elderly should have a seamless combination of comfort, safety, and convenience. Therefore, as the inhabitants progress in age certain modifications in the design structure of a house can enhance their accessibility and make a more senior-friendly home.
Let us analyse some specifications that needs to be taken into considerations while planning your apartment:-
Ensure easy movement :-
While people age, they become vulnerable and weak. So moving around the room is a task collaborated with fears of accidental falls apart from disability caused due to illnesses. You can place ledges, or ramps in place of stairs so that movement is painless and also wheelchair accessible. Also, make sure that if there are stairs, then there should be sturdy railings for support. If your apartment is not on the ground floor, then provision of lifts is very necessary for elderly-friendly home design.
Plan the Flooring :-
Tiles and ceramic flooring attract every homeowners, but they can be quite tricky for the elders. A senior-friendly home should a non slippery and naturally warm floors designed with terracotta tiles, mosaic, etc. Rubber flooring could also mean an added safeguard against accidents. But, re-flooring a house may not always be cost-effective. So in this case, you can consider placing carpets that ensure relevant cushioning too. The kitchen and the bathroom floors also should ideally have anti-skid tiles. Along with that all rugs and mats should have anti-slip underlays. Slippery floors and polished tiles might make way for fatal accidents for the elderly people. So a elderly-friendly home design is very much required.
Friendly home design suitable for elderly :-
You should make sure to create a spacious indoor plan to allow ease of movement, to reduce bumping into things. Place low slung chairs, tables, armchairs, and bed with suitable heights. Make some sort of sitting arrangement in the balconies or lawns. It would be preferable to ask the seniors in your home about things they would want to avoid.
Also, make sure that all the gadgets, appliances and fixtures are fitted at eye-level for the elderly people to operate comfortably. While placing cupboards and racks for personal use, make sure to introduce simpler things that would create less fuss.
Provide for enough lighting :-
A properly lit house would be safe and comfortable for the seniors. Abundant lights makes the seniors more comfortable in their movement around the house and as well as enhances the mood. Plan larger windows, that can stream much needed natural light in the daytime. Also, plan lights along passages, corridors, bathrooms, kitchen, and even inside cupboards and wardrobes. There should be focused lights around the beds for reading , keeping track of important things such as medicine labels, emergency calls etc for a elderly-friendly home design.
Communication :-
Communication is an integral part of a senior-friendly home. It is a very important factor for dealing with emergencies. Include both landlines and mobile connections in your home where you have senior-citizens residing with you. Prepare a chart of all the medical contacts for ease of access.
So, simple yet comfortable designs with proper maintenance can lead to lesser risks. It can provide for a better life for the seniors. If you can follow these tiny steps, then you can create a well-accommodated and comfortable senior-friendly home which will allow the elderly to perform their physical and mental tasks and as well as keep their dignity intact by being independent on their own.
