Your Home Has a Staircase: 6 Ways to Make Aging in Place Work
As people grow older, the stairs at home can feel more like a mountain. If you or your loved one feel the same way, you are not alone. More than 60% of seniors’ homes are equipped with stairs leading in or out of the house or to common areas such as the bedroom or bathroom. This can make elderly occupants more prone to falls, which is something you want to avoid if you’re set on aging in place (also known as aging at home).
But moving to a place without stairs may involve leaving your community, and there is often a shortage of suitable homes. Not everyone wants to move just because of a few stairs. Here are some ways you can still make it work:
Modify the Stairs
A few simple modifications can make stairs much safer for older people who are prone to injuries or falls. If your stairs do not have a handrail, add one. If possible, there should be handrails on both sides of the stairs, although not all designs will allow this. If you have outdoor stairs, you can make them safer by extending the handrail past the last step. Make sure the handrails are not too high.
You can also make existing stairs safer by adding anti-slip treads, which are a cheap and easy addition you can often do yourself. Lastly, ensure the stairs are well lit enough. Adding supplemental lighting may require the services of an electrician.
Add a Stairlift or Stair Assist Device
For those who want to age in place, stairlifts are a great option — albeit an expensive one. The cost of installation ranges from $3,000 for a simple, straight staircase to $10,000 for a curved staircase. Additionally, Medicare does not pay for stairlifts.
Stairlifts also require some maintenance. However, they can be a great solution, especially if the reason the person can't take the stairs is mobility-related rather than a concern about falls, and if the design of the home precludes some of the other solutions.
A cheaper alternative that some find helpful is a stair assist device. This consists of a bar that runs up the handrail, working just like a walker.
Move Essentials Around The most important thing you can do to make aging in place safer is to ensure step-free access between the bedroom and bathroom. Many American homes have at least one bedroom with an en suite bathroom, but if this is not the case then rearranging where you sleep might be necessary.
If your house doesn’t have a bathroom on the main floor, consider setting up a kitchenette upstairs. A microwave and mini-fridge can be very helpful in this situation. You can also move your hobby stuff to the same level. Living upstairs as much as possible will reduce the need for you to use the stairs. The more you can live on one level, the better.
Turn Single Steps into Ramps
Some older houses have single steps between rooms on the same level. These steps can be a problem if you use a walker, or a trip hazard even if you aren't using any assistive devices. A single-step ramp is relatively easy to purchase or have a handy person in your family make. These ramps are often called “threshold” ramps. While a ramp to deal with multiple steps can be very expensive, single-step ramps are cheap and you can often take them with you when you move out or pass them on to somebody else who might find them useful.
Rework Entryways
Adding a ramp to an entryway with stairs may or may not be feasible. However, it can increase the value of your home. It’s also appreciated by some delivery drivers.
If you have a back entrance without steps, consider rearranging things so that you can go in and out through that side of your home. This may involve reworking the landscaping at the sides of your house.
Hire a Home Health Aide
Even if you don't need help all the time or every day, it's a good idea to have a home health aide stop by regularly. A home health aide can clean rooms you are not using as much and help move things around. They can do everything from helping you cook meals to fetching stuff stored on another level of the house.
Home health aides that offer companionship care can do meal preparation, laundry (particularly handy if your laundry is in the basement), and light housekeeping; and help you with shopping and other errands. Getting a home health aide can make a huge difference in your quest to age at home.
Having a staircase at home shouldn’t feel like an insurmountable problem. With just a few interior and exterior tweaks, you can enjoy your golden years in the house you love.
For more information on aging in place and other senior health tips, you can check out our blog.
