Time to think about futureproofing

DO YOU love your home? Have you spent years making it the perfect place for you and do you want to remain living there for as long as possible? Then it’s time to start thinking about futureproofing.

Why not carry out a survey, jotting down the changes that might help with daily life?

Making those changes now, or phasing them in over a few years, will mean your home is equipped for your future. If you leave it too late, it could prove too much of a challenge.

For example, lever door handles are much better than knobs if your grip starts to weaken.

Are plug sockets easy to access? And upstairs, is your toilet a suitable height and can you get in and out of the bath or shower easily?

There are lots of adaptations that could help, from simple grabrails or a shower seat to a walk-in bath. Some might be more expensive, but planning ahead means you can spread the cost.

The main thing to consider is safety, to reduce the risk of a fall.

In the bedroom, you might think about an electrically adjustable bed, or simply one that’s the right height for you.

If you don’t have a phone extension, it can be a good idea to get one installed. Simple changes such as touchsensitive lamps or even remote-control curtains and blinds could help.

Perhaps the single most effective change you can make to futureproof your home is to install a stairlift. Designed to be unobtrusive and to blend with most decors, a good stairlift can be installed quickly and with no messy structural changes. It will effectively turn your two-storey home into a bungalow, meaning you need never worry about the stairs as you grow older.

The latest versatile and adaptable systems make stairlifts suitable for almost all staircase types.

To find out how you could benefit, it’s a simple matter to book a free, no-obligation home visit by an experienced surveyor. They will advise on a stairlift solution and give you a detailed quote that’s valid for 12 months, with no hidden extras.

It’s never too late to start planning ahead. And with a stairlift you can remain in the home you love and retain full use of it for years to come.