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Climbing the stairs becomes increasingly difficult, getting into the bathtub becomes tricky, and frequently used items are hard to reach: When mobility changes, it’s worth taking a closer look at your home. Which adjustments make everyday life easier depends on your personal needs and the layout of your home.
An apartment can work well for many years—but can become more of a challenge as you get older. You might hold onto furniture while walking, avoid the step leading to the patio, or wait to take a shower until someone else is home. Changes like these reveal where your familiar surroundings make daily life more difficult.
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Anyone who wants to live independently at home should address these emerging challenges. Even small changes can help make a situation safer. Others, however, require appropriate assistive devices or home modifications. A sensible first step, therefore, is to assess your home based on the daily activities that are important to you.
Where does everyday life become a struggle?
Think through a typical day: from getting up, to personal hygiene and breakfast, to going to bed. Where do you need more strength than you used to? Which movements make you feel unsteady? Which areas do you now use less often because getting there has become difficult?
You can use this to create a personal list:
- Pathways: Can I get to all the rooms I use regularly from the entrance?
- Freedom of movement: Do I have enough space to turn around, sit down, or use a walking aid?
- Accessibility: Can I easily reach light switches, window handles, and frequently used items?
- Support: Where do I need something to hold onto, a place to sit, or help from someone else?
These observations are also helpful for future counseling sessions. The more specifically the difficulties are described, the more effectively solutions can be sought.
Thresholds: Tripping Hazards & Obstacles
The living situation includes all pathways inside and outside the home. Apartments and houses have often been historically modified and expanded, and steps and thresholds were not uncommon. However, a well-adapted apartment offers only limited help in daily life if there are several steps leading up to it or if the elevator is only accessible on the mezzanine level. A heavy front door or a narrow entryway can also make it difficult to leave the house independently.
The goal is to create paths that are as free of thresholds as possible. Whether an existing transition can be navigated easily must be assessed based on the individual’s mobility and the assistive device being used. Gerhard Nussbaum, technical director of the KI-I Competence Network, therefore draws attention to the transitions: “Make sure there are no steps or thresholds, for example at the entrance and exit. Ensure that the maximum step height here does not exceed 1 cm. Of course, it’s best if there are none at all.”
Within the apartment, frequently used pathways deserve special attention: between the bedroom and the bathroom, from the entryway to the kitchen, or from the living room to the balcony. Check to see if furniture is blocking the way, if cables are in the way, or if rugs are slipping. Even, glare-free lighting makes it easier to spot obstacles.
When it comes to doors, the entire movement is important: Anyone who uses a walker or wheelchair needs space to approach the door, open it, and change direction. Regarding door width, Nussbaum says: “To be able to navigate through the door easily in a wheelchair, the door should have a minimum width of 90 cm.” Whether a door is actually suitable should be determined based on the assistive device being used and the available space on both sides.
In the bathroom: Consider the entire shower drain
In the bathroom, several activities take place in a confined space: undressing, sitting down, standing up, washing, and drying off. That’s why any modifications should take the entire process into account.
When it comes to the shower area, Nussbaum recommends floor-level solutions: “Design solutions, such as a floor-level shower, are available ready-made. These are standard shower pans, but they’re completely at floor level.” A walk-in shower makes it easier to get in, but its usability also depends on the available space, the flooring, the accessibility of the faucet, and, if necessary, a suitable seating option. Grab bars must be installed and properly secured where they provide support for the relevant movements. You can find more information on this in our special feature on senior-friendly Construction & Renovation.
When it comes to the toilet area, too, it depends on your personal situation. Nussbaum recommends: “Make sure there’s enough space next to the toilet so that you can access it from the side as well.” This is important, for example, for transferring from a wheelchair to the toilet from the side. If additional assistance is needed when standing up or if a second person needs to be able to help, sufficient space must also be provided for that.
In small bathrooms, it’s also worth taking a look at the door: How much space does it take up? Can it be opened in an emergency if someone is lying behind it? An alternative door solution or a different room layout should be discussed with a professional.
If you’d like to continue using your bathtub, you can have a professional assess whether a bath lift is suitable for their specific situation.
Frequently performed tasks deserve special attention
Even outside the bathroom, even small adjustments can make everyday life easier. In the kitchen, for example, this applies to the storage of dishes and food: Items used daily should be within reach without having to bend over deeply or stretch far. It’s also worth considering which tasks could be done comfortably while sitting.
In the bedroom, it’s important, among other things, to be able to get in and out of bed easily and to reach the light switch or phone from there. In the entryway, a sturdy seat can make getting dressed and undressed easier.
What changes make sense depends on the habits of the person living there. If planning is done together with family members, their wishes and decisions should serve as the starting point.
What tasks can technology take on?
Technical aids can make certain tasks easier or help you call for assistance. Examples include lights that turn on automatically, electrically operated blinds, or a home emergency call system.
Before making a purchase, it should be clear exactly what specific task the system is intended to perform. For emergency call and sensor systems, this also includes the organizational aspects: Who receives a notification? Who can respond? What data is collected, and does the person concerned consent to it?
A mere deviation from a normal daily routine does not necessarily indicate a fall. When selecting a system, it is therefore important to clarify exactly which events the system detects and when it triggers an alert.
Plan for the Next Renovation with a Long-Term Perspective
A planned renovation is an opportunity to take future needs into account as well. Gerhard Nussbaum recommends: “Plan ahead for the stages of life that lie ahead. This will allow you to remain in your own home for as long as possible and as independently as possible if you experience limitations due to old age or an accident.”
Anyone renovating a bathroom, replacing doors, or updating electrical systems can have a professional assess which future modifications can be prepared for in advance. These include, for example, suitable mounting options for grab bars or the future layout of switches and outlets. The additional costs involved and the future work that could be eliminated as a result must be assessed based on the specific project.
To start with, a manageable task will suffice: Identify the three situations at home that are currently causing you the most difficulty. A qualified housing counselor can help you determine appropriate measures based on these and prioritize the next steps. This way, the adjustments begin where they are most urgently needed in your daily life.
More on this topic You can find more information on senior-friendly renovation here
