- Ensure that the porch and entryway are clutter-free and that there is necessary access if they have mobility issues and require an aid such as a walking stick or a wheelchair.
- Ensure electric cables are tucked away and are not a trip hazard. And the same for rugs.
- Clear the stairs of clutter. If you're anything like me you'll have lots of 'bits' on the stairs waiting for someone to take them up. Before your elderly guest arrives clear these away to keep the stairs as safe as possible.
- If your elderly relative is coming to stay with you on a more permanent basis and you have the means to do so, consider whether or not installing a stairlift to help them with their quality of life is an option if they struggle with mobility issues.
- Ensure they have easy access from their bedroom to the shared spaces such as the kitchen and the living room and also the bathroom.
- If your guest is staying on a more permanent basis consider whether they might need handrails in the bathroom around the toilet and the bath.
- Make sure they have somewhere out of the way but also easy for them to access to store their belongings for the duration of their visit.
- If plugs that they may need to use are hard to reach, consider adding an extension lead to allow better access to them.
- If they enjoy reading at night, think about perhaps purchasing a reading light or ensure that there is an easy-to-access light switch for the lamp that is near enough to their bed that they won't need to get up to use it.
- Prepare their room with lots of blankets as well as a duvet for in case if they get cold at night.
- Make sure to point out the light switches to them on arrival. If they need to get up at night to use the toilet or for any other reason the last thing anyone would want is for them to be stumbling about in the dark trying to find the light switch.
- Talk to them about what makes them feel most comfortable in their own home before they arrive so that you can implement any changes beforehand.
I hope these few tips have been helpful if you are soon having elderly relatives over to stay or having an elderly relative come and live with you on a more permanent basis.
Please let me know if you would add anything else that is important to consider when having elderly guests come to visit or stay to this list.
Thank you for reading. Alex xo
*This is a collaborative post.
