As people
age, they develop a very timid nature. The changes are so extreme that even
their body responds differently. Their energy levels fall, and they need a
quick recharge. And what can be a better way of doing so than to spend some
time with the family in the living room?
It is
crucial to bring in some changes to make your living room comfortable for
senior citizens. Perhaps incorporating a better furniture layout can help.
However, there are more characteristics of your living room that you cannot
overlook while making your living room ideal for the elderly.
So, here are a few tips that you can use to create a safe and senior-friendly environment in your living room.
#1. Rearrange Furniture To Create Space
Mostly,
the living rooms can feel crowded with a lot of furniture in them. Too much
furniture can make walking around the living room a very complicated task for
the elderly. You might often find them bumping into a piece of furniture. It
can prove hurtful for their delicate bones.
The best
way to avoid such instances happening to the elderly in your house is to
rearrange the furniture. The furniture arrangement should allow them maximum
space to move around the house comfortably.
Consider
the following factors while rearranging the furniture in your living room.
- Opt for
a clean layout of the furniture.
- Make
your living room clutter-free. Sometimes, having a lot of furniture in your
living room can make it feel cluttered.
- Instead
of having several sofas, you can opt for an L-shaped sofa. It will stay in its
designated place and allow the elderly room for movement in the house.
- Instead
of having a big centre table in your living room, you can have a small
round-shaped centre table.
- To make
sitting in the living area more comfortable for them, you can bring home smaller
pieces of furniture. For instance, having an ottoman can give them a choice of
keeping their feet more comfortable while sitting on the couch or a chair.
Keeping a convenient furniture layout will ensure that the traffic flow in your living room stays steady. Besides, you can also rest assured that your living room will still look elegant.
#2. Opt For Furniture/Couch With Height
Stooping
low can be a challenging position for the elderly. If the furniture in your living
room is of low height, you might want to replace it. To make the older adults
in your house more comfortable, you can opt for furniture pieces that do not
require much effort.
Otherwise,
senior citizens might spend half of their time asking for help to get up or sit
down. Also, it might make them dependent, which is not a good feeling for
people their age.
To ensure
the comfort of the senior citizens in your house, you can implement the
following ideas.
- Bring
home furniture that is of standard height.
- Low-seating
dining tables are a big no-no if you have older people in your house.
- On-the-floor
diwans will do no good to enhance the comfort level of senior citizens in your
living room. So, you can avoid investing in these types of furniture.
- Also,
you might want to get a thick mattress for their bed. Since it will have some
height, senior citizens will feel comfortable. Also, they will not require much
help in getting up from their bed.
There are a lot of places you can explore to buy furniture that is perfect for older people. Ensure that you browse well before ordering any.
#3. Consider Changing The Living Room's Lighting
Another
thing you can do to make your living room comfortable for senior citizens in
your house is to change the lighting of your living room. Especially if your
living room has low light.
With age,
people struggle to see the things around them. The power of their eyes reduces
significantly, affecting their sight. To top it all off, improper or dull
lighting in the living room can make them more uncomfortable.
So, it is
best to change the living room’s lighting for good. It will not only make the
senior citizens comfortable but also enhance your living room’s looks.
Here are
some ideas for changing the living room's lighting.
- Go with
high-powered lamps in your living room.
- You can
even install bright LED lighting.
- Install
a few night lamps in your living room.
Elderly people might sometimes struggle with sleep. They might even get up in the middle of the night to walk around the house. So, it is best to have the night lamps in your living room well-lit to avoid any accidents. It will also ensure that they don't bump into the furniture while walking around the house when it is dark.
#4. Get Slip Resistant Flooring
Balancing
is a great issue with senior citizens. They can struggle with their balance
while walking around the house. Also, their bones and body are weaker than
before. So, if they slip, it can prove very hurtful for them.
If your
house has flooring that is not slip-resistant, it can contribute to making
walking around dangerous for them. A living room can be a high-risk area for
older people. Also, it contains a lot of stuff, slipping and bumping into,
which might bring them new problems.
To make
your house friendly for the elderly, you should consider installing
slip-resistant flooring. It goes for the living room and bathroom, as it falls
under the high-risk zone. Several other ways are using which you can plan your bathroom well.
The
below-mentioned ways can inspire you to create anti-slip flooring.
- You can
change the existing flooring of your house if it is already in need of a
change.
- However,
if you wish to minimize expenditure, you can install anti-slip rubber mats in
the living room.
- Besides, pebbled tiles floor display is also a great option to make your floor slip resistant.
#5. Think About Making Their Time In The Living Room Enjoyable
Getting
old does not mean that the elderly stop enjoying the activities that they used
to love. Perhaps they love to paint. Or, they might love reading. In such
cases, you can think about having a reading nook in the living room.
Besides, you can also think about having a corner where they can have their painting equipment ready. You can have all their painting colours in one place. In addition, you can make the place more comfortable by keeping a rocking chair for them in the living room. Besides offering comfort, there are several health benefits of a rocking chair. It makes it easy for them to sit around for a long time and enjoy a good time with the family.
#6. Use Elderly-Friendly Electronics
Your
living room can have many electronic items, such as a TV. Technology upgrades
can make senior citizens feel a little isolated. To avoid it, one must ensure
that they install such electronics in their house that the elderly can use
easily.
It would be best to choose remote-controlled electronics to prevent senior citizens from moving frequently.
#7. Make The Living Room Airy
Having a
dull living room might be problematic for not just the senior citizens in your
house but for other people in the house too. The requirement for fresh air is
of paramount importance. So, your living room must have provisions that make it
airier.
There are
a few ways you can use to make your living room airier.
- Consider
keeping windows open.
- If you
don't have many windows in your living room, you can plan to build a few.
- Opt for
light curtains in your living room.
- Your living room can look brighter and airy if you pick some neutral colour for its walls. Consider painting your living room walls white to make them look brighter and airier.
#8. Bring In Some Houseplants
Everybody
loves some fresh air in the area where they spend their time. You can bring in
some green houseplants to let the senior citizens enjoy fresher breath.
Having a
few indoor plants will be beneficial for everyone in the house. Green plants
can make anyone feel calm, relaxed, and lighter. The same holds for senior
citizens in your house.
You can even have a few vibrant flowers in your house. It will make the elderly love spending time with everyone in the living room.
#9. Add Railings Wherever Necessary
Finally, you might want the senior citizens in your house to have maximum comfort while walking around. To ensure ease, you can consider installing a railing to avoid any mishappening while they walk around the house.
Conclusion
So,
making a living room safe and a perfect hangout place for older people is not
much of a deal. You can easily convert your living room into the elderly's
favourite place.
Following
these few simple tips, you will achieve in helping the elderly get the comfort
they deserve in your living room. Also, they will always stay calm and relaxed.
Besides, they will love to spend time with their family.
In addition, implementing these few living room changes will ensure they stay safe. These changes eliminate the possibility of any accidents in the living room area.
Author bio:
Shikha Sharma works as a digital strategist
for UrbanCart,a leading furniture & home decor company . Her core
interests lie in digital marketing & social media strategy. Apart from
being passionate about her work, she adores the idea of bringing people
together by creating meaningful content for brands who want to grow.
