Whether you are moving your aging mum and dad in with you or helping them redecorate their own home or flat, it can be quite challenging to keep it stylish but utilitarian. Perhaps they have begun tripping more frequently or losing their balance and although they aren’t quite ready for in-home healthcare services, something needs to be done about the way in which their living space is set up. Home décor for the elderly can still be stylish but a bit of focus should be given toward décor that is both stylish and safe. Let’s look at what that means.
Assistive Furniture
When we refer to “assistive furniture” we are talking about things like motorized recliners that can help disabled or elderly people get in and out of a chair without much effort. Some recliners like those you’d find on sites that sell medical supplies for nursing homes have this function. There are controls that move the seat forward, tilting the front slightly downward so the person seated requires little effort to get into a standing position. These can be quite stylish, so they are as functional as they are trendy.
Keep Clutter to a Minimum
Whenever you are undergoing a remodelling project, one of the most common bits of advice you are given is to reduce clutter as you go. While this is an essential tip in home décor, it is even more important for the elderly. You don’t want to have easy chairs with ottomans, for example. They can easily stumble over them, falling in the process. It is vital to avoid that at all costs because old bones are quite fragile and break easily.
That recliner mentioned above would be a much better choice. The same holds true for little knickknacks and curios typically found on coffee tables. Altogether too many times a hot beverage is spilled due to a minimal amount of space on the surface of the table. Keep in mind that the best décor for the elderly is a minimalist approach.
Minimize Distractions
Speaking of a minimalist approach in home décor, it helps to minimise distractions. For example, mum and dad can still go out to the kitchen to brew a cup of tea or put a casserole in the oven, but if there are too many small appliances sitting on the counter, they may have nowhere to set a hot dish or pan. It is the same in literally every room in the home. If something isn’t needed daily, or several times throughout a week, tuck it away somewhere. The less you have lying about, the more unlikely there will be an ‘accident,’ no matter how slight.
Bear in mind that some elderly people get along just fine without assistance even into their 90s! However, it means that when decorating their living space you must give as much thought to safety as décor. There is no reason why you can’t have both. It just means that less of one (clutter) is more of another (safety).
