Make your home elder-friendly

 

If you have a senior citizens at home or are planning a home for your elderly, keep these things in mind in terms of design

Attention to detail is important when it comes to designing a house for senior citizens.  For a house to become senior-friendly, certain things have to be taken care of.  One has to keep their limited mobility, the tendency to trip/slip and fall, as well as blurred vision in mind so that one can create a space, which is convenient for the elderly folks.  To ensure the proper functioning of the house and ease of living, certain design standards have to be followed while designing the house.  In this article, we will have a look at a few key things.

Space clearances for mobility devices

In a home that is meant for seniors, one has to keep the possibility of mobility devices like wheelchairs in mind.  “While sizing the rooms, the necessary clearances after planning the furniture layout needs to be provided for wheelchair movement.  It is recommended to refer the American Disability Act or the National Building Code for the same.”

Convenience based configurations

While a high-end decorative item like a statue or a vase may seem like a regular household item, it is risky when it comes to the elderly, as it might block movement.  “Configurations should be designed purely based on convenience.  Things that are accessed daily should be kept within reach and ideally in drawers so it is easy to access.  Shelves for display can sometimes be difficult to maintain if not required for practical use”.

Special attention to bathrooms

Elders are at maximum risk when it comes to bathrooms as the risk of falling is higher because of the wet and slippery floors.   “Flooring of the room and bathroom should be anti-skid.  There are a variety of honed and rough finishes of tile and marble available to select from.  Bathroom fittings should also be adjustable to their use and grab bars should be installed as per requirements.  Glass cubicles instead of opening inward should open outward.  Adding to this point, Pandey mentions, “The positioning of sanitaryware and CP fittings needs to be done with consideration to the wheelchair.  The height of the fittings also needs to be specified accordingly.  Other essential elements may include a shower seat and a hand shower.”

Doors

The material used in the doors and also the width of the opening have to be different from normal houses.  As mentioned earlier, the doors should open on the outer side and be accessible with a wheelchair as well.  Pandey shares, “It is preferable to avoid latches and provide looks, which can be accessed in times of an emergency.  The recommended clear opening width is 900 mm.”

Proper lighting

The lighting in such a house should be sufficient as this factor is of paramount importance.  On the other hand, there should not be too much artificial light as it might harm their eyesight.  Giving some tips about it,  “Try to avoid glare as much as possible.  Introduce sheer blinds or curtains so that filtered natural light can enter the room to create the right mood and illuminate the space while also preventing the glare created by direct sun rays hitting the eyes.  The same can be done by using ambient lighting, cove and hidden strip lights, against harsh spotlights or panel lights.  Colour temperature should match daylight so when moving from indoor to outdoor, the adjustment factor is at minimum.”

The lighting level should be kept at a standard value for better results.  Pandey shares, “The wattage of the lamps in the light fixtures should be selected in order to provide the required lux levels.  Providing uninterrupted power through UPS/inverter can help in avoiding total darkness during power failures.  Dedicating the power points for the rechargeable emergency lights and planning for a permanent placement for the same could be considered a simple solution.  The recommended lux level is 300 lux.”