Its common knowledge that the world's population is aging, and Singapore is no exception. The Singapore government has plenty of measures in-place, as seen at our common facilities and reworked-healthcare systems. But what can we do at the place where they spend most of their time at: home? Fret not, as we've compiled 5 tips at designing elderly-friendly homes for our loved ones.
1) Living Rooms
One observations is that many elderly homes are very messy in nature, which can post a significant tripping hazard. Always keep the rooms empty, and ensure there is nature lighting available (note windows placement) so that the walking areas are well lit.
2) Bathrooms
The main concern for elderly using the bathrooms is slipping. When designing toilets, ensure that anti-slip tiles are installed. If the elderly is wheelchair-bound, do install ramps at the entrance.
Other concerns that would help with safety include grip-bars to assist the elderly in standing up and sitting down. As usual, do ensure the floors are kept tidy and free of things to trip over.
3) Bedrooms
For the average elderly, having ample space on the side of the bed would be ideal, especially so for those who are using walking sticks and needs a place to store them.
A side desk or table near the bed helps the elderly to reach out to their spectacles or medicine that they need before sleeping or in the morning.
4) Kitchen
The kitchen has to be both functional and accessible, while being practical. We recommend having lower racks as part of your kitchen design in mind to prevent the need to climb to reach higher shelves, which may just lead to an accident.
Instead, do consider installing pull-down shelves for easy reach or add pullout shelves to reduce the strain of bending over to reach the back of cabinets. All of these can be easily designed by your interior designer.
5) Common areas
There are no 1 size fits all home preparations for everyone home. Rather than designing your home based on generic recommendations, its important to understand what challenges the elderly residing in said home are facing, and design or renovate the home based on their needs. For example, doorknobs can be a challenge for someone with arthritis. Make life easier by replacing them with lever-style hardware to make life easier.
Other general advice include installing bells and telephones in the bathrooms and bedrooms in case someone elderly needs help. This will be useful for those who are mobility impaired as well. Having motion-sensor smart home devices that light up when they detect movements can come in quite handy when navigating at night. Lighting is especially critical on staircases so a well-lit staircase is ideal.
At Dreamakers Interior we believe that every space has the potential to become unique, harmonial and beautiful. We are proud of what we do and are prepared to work overtime to guarantee that you are satisfied with the way your space looks. From full-scale projects to small renovations, we invite you to take a look at our gallery and see what we have done. Below are some of our favorite projects. If you need professional help for design conceptualization or space planning, let us know
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