FUTURE-PROOFING: A WAY TO BOOST CONFIDENCE AT HOME
MAKING your home that little bit safer isn’t something to put off until a crisis. It’s surely better to future-proof — so that you can get maximum pleasure from your new addition, while minimising the risk of a damaging fall. Research by Age UK shows that a fifth of people in their 60s have taken that message very much to heart and are future-proofing their homes to make them suitable for their needs as they age. Spurred on by the latest goodlooking designs, this new generation of forward-thinkers is introducing sleek improvements to help ensure that they are prepared for their future and can manage on their own for as long as the can. In contrast, a third of those who make adaptations in their 70s are doing so because their home is no longer suitable for their needs. Hugh Forde of Age UK says: ‘While there is an emerging group of forward thinkers, the reality is that for many older people these needs are only realised after an accident or a relative becoming ill. Often small adaptations make a significant difference, not only helping people retain their independence and stay in their homes longer, but also reducing falls and accidents, and the subsequent cost of care and resources.’ The most popular adaptation among the ‘future-proofers’ is a level-access shower or wet room (31 per cent). And 37 per cent say that their confidence has increased since making the changes.