Creating a home environment that supports the changing needs of seniors is more than just a design challenge. It’s a crucial step towards ensuring safety, comfort, and independence as you age.

Let’s break down what this means for elderly support at home.

Mobility

As people age, moving around can become more challenging. That could be due to general mobility issues or more specific conditions like arthritis. A senior-friendly home design minimizes the need for climbing stairs and includes wider doorways and hallways to accommodate mobility aids like walkers or wheelchairs.

Safety

Falls are a major concern for seniors. A well-designed home for older adults reduces fall risks by having non-slip floors, grab bars in crucial areas like the bathroom, and minimal thresholds that can be trip hazards. Good lighting throughout the home is also essential to prevent accidents.

Comfort

Comfort in a home for seniors goes beyond plush couches. It’s about ease of use. Things like easy-to-operate windows and doors, thermostat controls within reach, and comfortable seating that supports getting up and sitting down are all vital.

Accessibility

The key to a senior-friendly home is accessibility. That means everything a senior needs daily should be easy to reach. For instance, in the kitchen, essential items should be at waist or chest level to avoid the need to bend down or reach up.

Sensory Considerations

With age, changes in vision and hearing can affect how a senior interacts with their environment. High-contrast color schemes can help delineate spaces better, and visual cues can be used for important areas or items. Likewise, homes should be designed to minimize excessive noise, which can be disorienting or overwhelming for some seniors.

Designing a Comfortable and Accessible Home for Seniors: Essential Features

Certain features are essential when creating a comfortable and accessible home for seniors. These elements are not just about luxury; they are necessities that address the everyday challenges that aging adults might face. Here’s a look at what makes a home truly senior-friendly:

Wide Doorways and Hallways: The need for spacious pathways increases as mobility decreases. Wide doorways and hallways allow for easier movement, especially if a senior uses a walker or wheelchair. Ideally, doorways should be at least 36 inches wide.

No-Step Entryways: Steps can be a major hurdle for seniors. Having at least one no-step entryway into the home is crucial. That could mean a ramp or a flat entrance that eliminates the need for climbing stairs, reducing the risk of falls.

Floors and Bathtubs with Non-Slip Surfaces: Slippery surfaces are one of the leading causes of falls at home. Installing non-slip flooring, particularly in the bathroom and kitchen, can prevent these accidents. For bathtubs and showers, non-slip mats or textures are a must.

Sufficient Lighting: Good lighting is vital for seniors, especially those with deteriorating vision. Ample, well-placed lighting helps prevent falls and makes it easier to perform daily tasks. That includes brighter bulbs, night lights in hallways and bathrooms, and accessible light switches.

Easy-to-Reach Switches and Controls: Light switches, thermostats, and other controls should be easy to reach. Ideally, they should be placed at a height accessible from a standing or seated position. Simple, intuitive controls are also a plus, as they are easier for seniors.

Lever-Style Door Handles and Faucets: Twist knobs can be difficult for seniors, especially those with arthritis. Lever-style handles are much easier to use and can be operated with a simple push or pull, making opening doors and using faucets much more manageable.

Home Cleaning Services

Our home cleaners can polish, vacuum, wash floors, and clean kitchens and bathrooms to make your home inviting. Services are available daily, weekly, monthly, or as needed.

Types of home cleaning services we offer include:

• Dusting

• Polishing

• Vacuuming

• Dust baseboards and windowsills

• Clean around switch plates and door frames to remove dirty marks

• Clean mirrors

• Wash floors

• Cleaning inside windows

• Clean kitchen

• Light cleaning of kitchen appliances

• Wipe down kitchen cupboards

• Clean bathrooms

• Clean out closets and drawers

• Change bedding

• Laundry and ironing

• Take out garbage

Note: our companions are prohibited from:

• Lifting out heavy windows to clean

• Climbing ladders to get at draperies or light fixtures

• Moving heavy furniture

• Shampooing carpets

• Washing walls and ceilings

ORGANIZING AND MOVING SERVICES

☐ Home organization projects

☐ De-cluttering cabinets & drawers

☐ Packing/unpacking

☐ Moving assistance

☐ Garage clean out & organization

☐ Help rotating seasonal clothes for family members

☐ Make arrangements for donation pick ups

☐ Mail management

HOME MANAGEMENT SERVICES

☐Schedule and arrange service calls

☐ Be the Liaison with home vendors

☐ Gather and present estimates to your client

☐ Manage or Oversee home projects

☐ Wait for the Cable guy

☐ Wait for the phone or utility company

☐ Wait for appliance or furniture deliveries

☐ Accept packages that require a signature

☐ Wait for (and even supervise) contractors

☐House checkups – daily or less frequently


☐ Plant maintenance

☐ Schedule and arrange service calls

☐ Be the Liaison with home vendors

☐ Gather and present estimates to your client

☐ Manage or Oversee home projects

☐ Wait for the Cable guy

☐ Wait for the phone or utility company

☐ Wait for appliance or furniture deliveries

☐ Accept packages that require a signature

☐ Wait for (and even supervise) contractors

AUTO SERVICES

☐ Take for motor vehicle inspections

☐ Take car to car wash

☐ Wait to have new tires replaced

☐ Wait for oil change

☐ Wait for other maintenance and repairs

☐ Annual inspection reminder: Schedule AND take car for service

☐ Take vehicle for estimates for repairs

PET SERVICES

☐ Take care of your client’s pets while they’re away on vacation

☐ Daily Pet checks or walks

☐ Change the litter box

☐ Schedule and take pets for grooming appointment

☐ Take pets for routine Vet care and follow up

☐ Purchase pet food and supplies

SERVICES FOR SENIORS OR THOSE RECOVERING FROM SURGERY OR ILLNESS

☐ Check in on elderly

☐ Schedule home visits for companionship

☐ Daily errands so they can be safe at home

☐ Coordinate other outside services

☐ Pick-up or drop-off prescriptions

☐ Meal delivery

☐ Help organize medical claims

☐ Maintain contact with family and update them as requested

☐ Obtain post-operative medical devices (walkers, garments, etc.)

Whatever your health goals may be, you can make a great start on your wellness journey by choosing one of our dynamic wellness experiences or programs that focus on lifestyle resets, health, life transitions, joy or one-of-a-kind personal pursuits. These expertly designed programs and curated services, activities and consultations – will help you enhance your life.

Our diverse team of wellness experts guides and inspires you, leveraging over 40 years of integrative, evidence-based care to support your wellness goals, addressing your mind, body, and spirit.

Explore your interests, passions, and desired changes. Our Wellness Guide offers fresh suggestions that could enhance your experience.

☐ Check in on elderly

☐ Schedule home visits for companionship

☐ Do the laundry

☐ Change the bed linens

☐ Daily errands so they can be safe at home

☐ Assist with bill paying

☐ Coordinate other outside services, such as homecare

☐ Pick-up or drop-off prescriptions

☐ Meal delivery

☐ Help organize medical claims

☐ Maintain contact with family and update them as requested

☐ Obtain post-operative medical devices (walkers, garments, etc.)

SPECIAL OCCASION & HOLIDAY PLANNING AND COORDINATION

☐ Research venues

☐ Arrange catering/butler services

☐ Arrange photographer

☐ Flower/balloon delivery

☐ Invitations

☐ RSVP list coordination

☐ After event support: rental returns, merchandise returns

☐ Write thank you notes

☐ Send holiday cards

☐ Decorate for the holidays

☐ Put holiday decorations away

ADMIN SERVICES

☐ Anniversaries

☐ Birthdays

☐ Make dinner reservations

☐ Flower deliveries

☐ Remind client of birthdays or special anniversaries of family members and friends

Send weekly correspondence

☐ Send out birthday cards for your family & friends systematically (keep + monitor dates FOR you)

☐ Help assist, plan and set up for small to large trips/vacation

☐ Wrap and ship gifts

☐ Assist with Banking

☐ Assist with Bill paying

SCHEDULING APPOINTMENTS

☐ Doctors

☐ Dentist

☐ Spa

☐ Golf

☐ Home repair

☐ Estimates

☐ Car service

☐ Others …

☐ Grocery shopping

☐ Dry cleaning pick up/delivery

☐ Prescription pick up

☐ Pick up and drop off items from Post office, UPS, or Fed Ex

☐ Personal shopping

☐ Bulk shopping at places like Costco

☐ Make timely returns and exchanges

☐ Holiday shopping

☐ Gift shopping and wrapping

☐ Shoes repair

☐ Watch repair

☐ Jewelry Repair

☐ Pick up items from the Hardware store

☐ Meal delivery

☐ Meal Prep and Recipe selections

☐ Library books returned

☐ Liquor store run

☐ Fresh snacks and treats from the Bakery

☐ Deliver local packages with a personal touch

☐ Make personal gift baskets for a client to give us gifts

ADMIN SERVICES

☐ Anniversaries

☐ Birthdays

☐ Make dinner reservations

☐ Flower deliveries

☐ Remind client of birthdays or special anniversaries of family members and friends

☐ Arrange housekeeper services

SCHEDULING APPOINTMENTS

☐ Doctors

☐ Dentist

☐ Spa

☐ Golf

☐ Home repair

☐ Estimates

☐ Car service

☐ Others …

AUTO SERVICES

☐ Take for motor vehicle inspections

☐ Take car to car wash

☐ Wait to have new tires replaced

☐ Wait for oil change

☐ Wait for other maintenance and repairs

☐ Annual inspection reminder: Schedule AND take car for service

☐ Take vehicle for estimates for repairs

☐ Research venues

☐ Arrange catering/butler services

☐ Arrange photographer

☐ Flower/balloon delivery

☐ Prepare “goody bags”

☐ Invitations

☐ RSVP list coordination

☐ After event support: rental returns, merchandise returns

☐ Write thank you notes

☐ Send holiday cards

☐ Decorate for the holidays

☐ Put holiday decorations away

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