The new future-proofers
AFORWARD- THINKING fifth of people in their 60s are taking steps to adapt their home, so that it will better meet their mobility needs as they grow older.
Many of this new generation of futureproofers say that they have carried out home improvements to ensure they can manage on their own, retain independence and stay put for as long as possible, according to a new study by Age UK.
More than a third report that taking preventative measures has made them feel more confident, with a quarter saying that they now worry less about risks.
But while this emerging group of sixty-somethings is taking action to protect their future, the study also reveals that one in 20 people of this age confesses that they don’t want to think about getting older at all.
Almost one in five said they would only consider adapting their home if advised by their doctor, with a quarter saying that they would wait until they had an accident which limited mobility.
Yet planning ahead can save on stress in the long run, while making the home a much more comfortable place to be. Age UK’s Hugh Forde says: ‘Although it can seem daunting, thinking about how your living situation and your needs might change as you age is important, rather than waiting until an accident happens or a relative becomes ill.
‘Often small adaptations can make a
significant difference, not only helping people retain their independence and stay in their homes longer, but also reducing falls and the subsequent cost of care and resources.’
In contrast to the younger future-proofers, a third of the people of 70 and over who have carried out adaptations have done so because their home no longer suited their needs.
In this age group, one in ten had been advised to make changes by their GP, while the same number said the adaptations had been done by their family to help them manage better.
Almost a third had introduced changes to make caring for a relative easier.
With more and more people choosing to adapt their homes, Age UK advises that, as with any major purchase, doing your homework before buying is always wise.
Forde says: ‘Speak to other people and get user recommendations, or read some customer reviews of the product that you’re interested in. Check that there is a guarantee and returns policy in case the product doesn’t meet your needs. And always shop around for the best price.’
DON’T BE FLOORED BY STEPS
THE freedom of being able to go up and down the stairs plays a big part in staying safe and independent at home.
If you are starting to struggle with the climb up the ‘ wooden hill’, an extra banister rail might make life easier. But if that is not enough, perhaps because you have a health condition such as arthritis or breathing difficulties, then a stairlift could revolutionise your world.
You won’t be alone in looking for help with tackling the biggest obstacle in the house.
The stairs is the tricky topic on the mind of 23 per cent of visitors to the Ask Sara mobility advice website.
Future-proofing here might take away the pressure to move or to confine your living arrangements to one floor. And there are even stairlifts for garden steps, making it easy to spend more time outdoors.
Of course, you don’t have to be really struggling on the stairs to benefit from a stairlift.
Many people use theirs only at those times when they are tired or feel a little unsteady, for example first thing in the morning or last thing at night, or when they are having a bad day.
When buying or renting, do ask about special features such as a swivel seat to help get safely on and off, adapted controls to assist your grip and safety sensors to make sure the stairlift stops if something blocks its movement.
An alternative is a through-floor lift. These have now become more affordable for home use and can be fitted without major structural changes. Board in the lounge and emerge in the bedroom, with no strain whatsoever.