An abode for their twilight years

As a person ages, their lifestyle needs also change. It is important to be mindful of one’s own health limitations and needs and seek a home that caters to them. At the same time, seniors deserve safe and serene homes to spend those golden years in comfort. After all, one would want the space and freedom to explore the hobbies and interests one didn’t have time for when they were young.

Can’t be ignored

India’s 60-plus population, currently numbering about 100 million is likely to double by 2030 and triple by 2050, says a UN Population Fund and Help Age International report. Moreover, with families increasingly adopting nuclear setups, the parents and their married children are living independently in their respective homes, making the elderly segment a new category of residents.

Before making a choice, one has to assess present needs and visualise future
requisites. Many houses in modern urban landscape seem to be built by people who presume that they will never grow old. Missing ramps, high stairs, absence of
railing near stairs, lack of sitting spaces in common areas, poor lighting in staircases, sign-boards in small fonts — all of these common housing features just reflect the scant regard for the aged living there.

These discrepancies only highlight the need to design buildings wherein senior citizens can live safely and comfortably.  With a lot being said about “smart” cities and homes, it becomes all the more imperative to make them more “smart” for the elderly.
For instance, not many buildings find lifts in which a wheelchair can enter.  Height-adjusted cabinets are not provided in bathrooms, bedrooms and kitchen. While several developers claim to be concerned about the needs of the elderly on their projects, the ground reality is different. The upcoming projects should be conceptualised taking the changing, realistic needs of the elderly into consideration.

You do not want to risk an injury. Most serious falls occur in and around the home, and can be life-changing. To help maintain your independence, have you done a safety-check in your home recently? Can a person with limited mobility prepare food easily? Is the home well-lit? Is the toilet at a proper height and securely fastened to the floor? Are towels/shower accessories easy to reach? Can door be unlocked from outside? Are floors, including tub and shower floor non-slippery? Is the shower easy to enter and exit with a place to sit while bathing? Queries like these are endless. Here are some helpful guidelines:

 Kitchen: Are workspaces at heights appropriate to users, including a seated user? Are the microwave, toaster oven, small appliances, switches and outlets within easy reach? Can faucets and cabinet handles be used with one hand? The kitchen sink, cabinets, cooking stove and other work surfaces should be kept at the waist level to make it
accessible for a person in a wheelchair.  

 Bedroom: Is your bed too tall or too low? A bed that is too low is hard to get into and out of, while a bed that is too tall can actually be hazardous. 

Bathroom: Be sure you can move safely in bathroom area, in and out of the tub or shower. Remove soap build-up in tub or shower on a regular basis. The bathrooms should have anti-slip mats, senior-friendly faucets, shower chairs, and toilet-seat raiser, in addition to installing wider doors that open outward to enable easy wheelchair-friendly movement.

Stairways: Both sides of the steps should have proper handrails, and securely fastened. Floorboards must be even. Ensure stretcher lift/s with generator backup for emergency
evacuations. 

Lighting: Place night lamps in hallways, bedrooms and bathrooms. Install light switches at the top and bottom of stairs for better visibility. Glow points in all corners help avoid tripping in the dark.

Security: Emergency alarm system/CCTV cameras should be installed at strategic points, and monitored for any kind of emergency, in addition to security guards.

Amenities matter tooThe amenity design should take into account people who are retired but still enjoy a vibrant lifestyle. Living space should be cosy but never cramped, and the interiors should be pleasing with quality fittings.  Staying active is crucial for senior dwellers, so ensure there are appropriate facilities like a park, reflexology paths, outdoor spaces and reading rooms to relax.

Wellness centres, walking trails are among the most wanted amenities in senior housing developments. A part-time instructor for positive ageing can motivate elderly residents to practise wellbeing activities. Facilities like reading room, hobby club, games, yoga, arts and crafts are welcomed by the elders.

Arrangements must be made for prompt response to medical emergencies by way of doctors, ambulances and tie-ups with nearby hospitals. The builders need to be sensitive to the “senior” needs and design product to meet their expectations, warranting critical evaluation and holistic approach. 

Making homes suitable for elderly occupants, though easy to describe, is expensive.  The cheapest solution is to make homes senior-friendly when they are built, rather than trying to retrofit them. The future is closer than you think, as time for senior
citizens is only shrinking.