Daily Mail

It’s good sense to adapt

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USING independen­ce independai­ds at home is now viewed as an accepted part of growing older, according to a survey for Age UK, that found six in ten people aged over 65 see it that way.

So there’s no need to be held back by concerns it will look as if you have ‘ given in’. Thinking about safety at home is just common sense — and will help you get more out of life.

For those who do use independen­ce aids, the benefits are clear, with 57 per cent saying that using one makes them feel safer in the home, while 42 per cent experience a heightened sense of independen­ce.

Yet, worryingly, 16 per cent of older people are unsure of what’s available and where to find informatio­n that will help them stay independen­t. Another recent study shows that those older people without mobility aids and adaptation­s are twice as likely to fall, which can lead to hip or shoulder fractures — injuries that can fasttrack them into care.

A bank holiday weekend is coming up and the forecast is a little mixed, so why not spend some time looking into what’s out there that could make your life easier? or keep an eye on what plants l need d trimming. i i If the thought of a heatwave brings worries about exerting yourself on the stairs within your home, an indoor stairlift will save your energy, so that you can conserve it for what you enjoy doing most. When temperatur­es soar, you won’t be stuck on one floor but will be able to move around freely — handy if you want to nip up for a snooze or a shower, for example. A stairlift can be fitted with minimal fuss in just a few hours. And as the rail fits to the stair treads, not to the wall, there is no need to redecorate or re-carpet. Installing a stairlift is also cost-effective compared with the upheaval of moving to live on one level.

 ?? Picture: DOLPHIN BATHING ??
Picture: DOLPHIN BATHING

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