6 Elderly Needs And Wants That Should Be Met
The population is growing and aging, meaning there are more elderly people alive today than ever before, that’s why there are many whose children are looking for an elder care home.
With advancements in medicine and a better standard of living, life expectancy is increasing and adjustments need to be made to help people as they live for longer.
Here are just six ways accessibility can be improved to help the aging population.
1. Improving changing rooms and toilets
If you’re lucky, you may find one disabled access toilet per toilet block and one larger changing room per store. However, this needs to change in order to make these areas more suitable for the elderly population.
As we age, we lose mobility. Confined toilet cubicles and small changing rooms can be difficult for those with restricted movement to access the services. It is also not fair that they all wait for the one accessible cubicle available.
By simply extending the size of toilets and changing rooms people who require a wheelchair, a mobility scooter or an aid would simply like more space to get around and still enjoy the same retail experience.
2. The inclusion of lifts or stairlifts in highrise buildings
Building accessibility has come a long way in recent years yet still many shops and high rise buildings do not provide a lift, stairlift or alternative means of accessing the higher levels of the building.
This is extremely vital for seniors who are using a heavy-duty power chair for adults that is bulky and can not be carried in their hands.
This deficiency can make them very difficult to navigate for anyone who struggles using the stairs. Hence, it is good you plan that if you expect a number of elderly people around your home or work.
3. The provision of accessible furniture
Very low sofas or hard uncomfortable chairs are not user-friendly for the elderly population.
The same way doctors provide bariatric chairs for overweight patients, there should be a number of accessible options. Examples are sit-stand chairs for elderly people at restaurants, cinemas and other events.
These can be purchased to look just like any other piece of stylish furniture but will ensure that anyone with restricted movement is able to enjoy the same experience as their friends and family.
4. Personal Health Care Items
Once the elderly begin to frequent the hospitals for check-ups, they may need some hospital financial planning.
Every part of the body requires care and attention. Pain in one part can quickly affect every other part, especially for the aged.
It is also important to use personal care items. These items will help to prevent complications and temporary admission into the hospitals.
I once had an ear infection and the pain was so intense. My head and jaw started to hurt and I couldn’t sleep for some nights.
No aged person should experience such pain. It can lead to damage to the base of the brain and bone tissues around the ear. Bathroom and shower safety tips are also very important.
Get free tips and tricks that will help you to achieve success faster 😉
5. More accessible public transport
Many elderly people prefer city living as they age. This makes it easier to get around, however some public transport can still be inaccessible.
Bus stops often do not provide proper seating and there can be lengthy walks between stops.
Making public transport more accessible is more than simply providing reserved seating. It involves re-thinking bus routes and the journey that a person may need to make.
You will find some caregiver resources here.
6. Encourage web accessibility
For many older people, the internet can seem like a very inaccessible place because of the change from their psychosocial-inclined world to the internet age.
To rectify this, apps and products need to be designed with older users in mind.
These accessibility issues often overlap with those of users with disabilities such as visual or cognitive impairments.
Another way to help older people access the internet. This is to offer guidance support and training to help them get to grips with unfamiliar technology.
We can do more to support the ageing population in their use of the internet. This can help them with many other areas of their lives.
Let me know what you think.
The part of your article that talked about things like improved toilets, stairs, and changing rooms as things that elderly people would need definitely caught my attention. We’re currently trying to change up our house to include these things so we can take care of my father easily, but we’re so busy that it’s becoming a bit of a hassle to try and finish the project. I’ll look for a personal care home that has these kinds of things so my father can stay there until our house is ready.
Thanks for reading, Jackson. I’m glad you found it insightful. Kudos and thanks for taking care of your father.