Age ‘in place’ by adapting for on- going living
A TERM that’s starting to reach us from across the Atlantic is ‘ageing in place’. It means taking the necessary steps to make sure the home we love is suitable for on-going living as we age. this avoids the triple-whammy of heart-wrenching relocation, spiralling care home fees, and the current residential and domiciliary care staffing crisis.
It’s not just risk management though. research has shown that continuing to live independently surrounded by friends, a support network and a familiar environment does wonders for our mental health, keeping it strong and positive well into retirement age. Successful ageing in place can be achieved through carefully planning for our later years. the key is sensitive and gradual adaption of our property. When a replacement bathroom is due, install an easy access shower or wet room, preferably with some in-built seating. Kitchen remodelling? Make sure you leave sufficient space for future wheelchair use. When it comes to stairs, there is no better investment than a homelift. Stiltz is the best-selling manufacturer of homelifts in the UK. Its products are uniquely designed, as the lift car runs on two free-standing vertical rails. this allows for flexible positioning; for example, when a compact Duo lift is tucked in the corner of a room, it takes up no more space than a small armchair. Another advantage is that the lifts don’t look like accessibility aids. they’re attractive, quiet, quick to install and electrically-powered, plugging into a standard domestic power socket.