Nice weather is on the way, and that means that your senior parent who is living at home will be able to get outside and enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. But, there are some hazards that your senior parent may encounter outside that can cause them to trip and fall or face other injuries. It’s important to create as many senior-friendly outdoor spaces at your senior parent’s home as you can. That way your senior parent can safely get out of the house, get some activity walking around, and socialize with neighbors. Their home care providers can assist them with spending more time in the outdoors safely.
Some things that you can do to make more senior-friendly spaces at your senior parent’s home are:
Fix Walkways And Paths
If your senior parent has lived in their home for a long time some of the concrete walkways, stepping stone paths, or mulch paths may need to be fixed or replaced. Mulch and wood chips can be difficult for seniors to walk on because they’re uneven. Stepping stones can have cracks, weeds, and other damage that make them trip hazards. The best way to make sure your senior parent will be safe walking around outside is to pave walkways or put in smooth concrete paths. If your senior parent has home care these pathways will also be safer for the home care provider.
Replace A Deck With A Patio
Decks can rot over time. Weather damage can make the wood contract and expand and make it soft. And the steps can be quite unsafe for seniors. If possible, replace a deck with a concrete slab patio that is flat and even. That way your senior parent can enjoy it even if they need a walker or cane to get around.
Upgrade Seating And Put Out More Of It
Traditional outdoor chairs can be extremely uncomfortable and unstable for seniors who need support sitting down or getting up from a chair. Instead of traditional outdoor chairs put out sturdy and wide wood chairs that have a solid seat and arms that seniors can lean on. Outdoor sofas are fantastic for seniors because they are comfortable and supportive.
Put groupings of chairs at regular intervals along walkways and scatter them in places where your senior parent likes to hang out in the yard. That way there will always be a safe place for them to sit if they are out walking around and need to sit down for a minute.
Add More Shade
Seniors tend to burn easily, and the hot sun can also cause heatstroke and dehydration. Add some shade so that your senior parent will always have a shady place to sit if they want to be outdoors. A pergola, a sun umbrella, or even a small awning over the patio can all be good ways to create shade outdoors. You can also plant trees or hedges to block out some of the summer sun.
Install Lighting
If your senior parent likes to sit outside in the evening and chat with neighbors make sure there is enough lighting that they can walk around safely. Motion sensor lights are a great choice because they will come on automatically when they sense movement.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care Services in Huntington Beach CA, please call the caring staff at Canaan Home Care today! 1-844-CANAAN-1 (1-844-226-2261)
Canaan Home Care – A Premier Provider of Senior Home Care in the La Jolla, Del Mar, San Diego, Rancho Santa Fe, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Tustin, and Manhattan Beach areas.
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