Safety features should be highlighted in every home where an older adult is living. This applies to those who choose to age in place, and even those who are thinking of moving into a senior living community. Since mobility can become an issue as you age, it pays to note some of the mobility safety features to look for when considering senior living care.
Why look for these mobility features? Let us answer this question first. Knowing that you do not have access to proper safety features will just make you spend so much time inside your home. The lack of these will then lead to isolation, and even an increased risk of falling, and later on injury. Your family members will surely look for features to install in order to help you with your mobility concerns.
Stairs
Your family members may already have stairs installed in your homes at the moment. This is perfect for those of you who choose to age in place. This will give you access to the upper part of the home, whenever the need arises. Your choice of senior living community may have already included this as part of their amenities. Make sure you check on it.
Elevators
To replace stairs, elevators are considered very great additional mobility safety features in retirement communities. You can use these to access other areas in the community, without putting too much pressure on your feet which you will feel while going up and down the stairs. You will be accompanied by your carer when using such feature.
Grab Bars & Handrails
Whether it is the bathroom, the dining hall, or the hallway, having grab bars and hand rails will be much welcome. These can serve as your guide when walking and you want to find your balance. These additions will help you move smoothly to where you want to go, and assure you will not fall.
Wide Doors and Hallways
These are important considerations in retirement communities. The wider the door and hallway, the better it will be for you. These will make sure you won’t bump into another resident or any other person who are going into an opposite direction as you. These will also assure you won’t have to bump onto walls easily.
Walk-In Showers
Aside from having handrails and grab bars ready for bathrooms in your apartments, a walk-in shower will be great for you to have an easier time walking from your wheelchair then taking a bath. Your caregiver will also be able to use such showers so that they will not find it problematic positioning you from your wheelchair to the seat provided in your shower area.
Ramps
There are areas in the community which cannot be accessed by stairs or elevators. In order to make pushing your wheelchair easier for you, ramps need to be provided in different places.
As you have seen, these mobility safety features are not the same, but they serve the purpose of making sure you are safe when walking and accessing other areas within the community. These must be included in your choice for senior living care.
