Meaningful Home Modifications to Help Your Parent with Mobility Issues
Caregiver in Prince William County VA
Mobility issues are extremely common among elderly adults. Whether it occurs because your parent has suffered an injury or because of an illness or other issue, not being able to move around 
effectively can make a tremendous impact on your parent’s quality of life. They may not be as active as they need to be in order to stay healthy and strong, may avoid activities, and could stop using their home to its fullest. As their caregiver you can make a major difference in your parent’s ability to live the lifestyle that they desire. One effective way that you can do this is through meaningful home modifications that help them to address mobility issues.
Some modifications that you can make to help your parent handle mobility issues include:
- Widened doorways. If your parent utilizes a mobility aid such as a walker, scooter, or wheelchair they might find it difficult to get through standard doorways. Widening doorways enables your parent to move through them more easily so that they can use the entire home without having to forego their mobility aid.
- Modified doors. It can be difficult for a senior dealing with limited mobility in their hands or the need to use mobility aids to open and close doors. Modifying doors address this limited mobility in a way that is safe and comfortable. For example, if your parent has pain or stiffness in their hands, replacing the round doorknob with a latch will make using it far easier. Doors equipped with a rope pull enable a senior using a mobility aid to open it without having to stand or move away from their device.
- Ramps. If your parent has issues with mobility they may have difficulty handling even small changes in elevation such as high thresholds or sunken rooms. Adding ramps to these areas of the house allow your parent to move through them quickly and safely, reducing fall risk and enabling your loved one to utilize areas of the home that they might have stopped using due to their challenges.
- Lifts. A short set of stairs into a sunken room or off of a porch may not seem like much, but for a senior who is dealing with mobility problems it can make the difference of not being able to use that area of the home or lawn. This can be frustrating and even mean that your loved one has to miss out on activities and experiences. Consider installing automatic lifts in these areas. These simple machines allow your parent to step onto a platform and touch a button. The system will then lower them down so that they can use the lower area. When they are ready, they can get back on the platform and be raised back up. Features such as gates and harnesses keep your parent safe during transit. Many of these systems can be installed outdoors and withstand weather so that your parent can make the most of all of their property.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring a professional caregiver in Prince William County, VA, please contact the caring staff at LivinRite Home Care. Call Us Today at (703) 369-6677. Serving Northern Virginia, The Valley, and Surrounding Communities
Co-Owner at LivinRite Home Care
LivinRite is a Medicare certified agency based in Manassas, VA. Since 2003 we have been committed to providing the best home health care available. Our company was started by a registered nurse who still owns and operates the company today. Julie McCormick and Brendan McCormick are co-owners and founders of LivinRite Home Health Services. Between the two of them comes over 35 years of home health care experience. Julie is a Registered Nurse with extensive experience in Emergency Medicine, Cardiac Critical Care, Oncology & Infusion Services.
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