Everyone deserves to live in a home that’s going to be safe for them. 

When you’re little, you need things like baby gates and outlet covers to help keep you safe within your home. But as you get older, you’ll need different adjustments so that you can ensure that nothing in your home is a danger to you.

If you’re hoping to age in place in your home, or if you’re just trying to stay in your home for as long as possible before moving into an assisted living facility, here are three features to add to your home as you get older. 

Shower And Tub Modifications

The bathroom is one of the most dangerous rooms in a home for older people. Because there is a lot of sitting down and standing up, your balance could easily get thrown off. And with the use of water in this room, it’s easy to slip and fall if you’re not careful.

Knowing this, starting with new modifications in the bathroom is a great idea. For your bathtub or shower, getting a bench so that you can take a seat if you begin feeling weak or lightheaded is a great idea. Additionally, if you’re going to have a bathtub, getting one that you can walk into rather than having to step into is ideal. And along with all of these features, putting in flooring that gives you more traction and grab bars within the shower and near the toilet can all be incredibly helpful. 

Widen Walkways

Whether you wind up needing a wheelchair at some point or not, having wide walkways within your home can make life easier as a senior citizen. 

As people get older, they often struggle with balance. As a result of this, they sometimes need things like walkers or canes to help them get around. And when using an accessory like this, it can be incredibly helpful to have enough space around you to move without worrying that you’ll run into a wall, door frame, or something else. So if you can, you may want to widen your doorways before it becomes a necessity. 

Replace Hardware

While you might like having door knobs that you have to turn or keeping handles off of your drawers or cabinets, these things aren’t ideal when you’re trying to age in place. 

For many older people, having lever door handles will make it much easier to open and close doors. And if your cabinets have a larger handle on them that’s easy for you to grab onto, you’ll have a much easier time getting into the cabinets or drawers at your house. 

If you’re wanting to stay in your own home as you get older, consider making some of the adjustments mentioned above to help your home be safe and comfortable for you.