Problems The Elderly Face Living At Home Alone

For the elderly, living alone can be a tough thing. With children grown up and moved out and increasing problems that come with age like loss of mobility, maintaining independence can be a struggle. There are a number of common, everyday obstacles that the elderly face, each requiring a solution or attention. Family who are worried about older relatives living on their own should task themselves with creating a more comfortable and safe environment for them.

Trips and Falls

Physical limitation is one of the most common problems that the elderly face. Older individuals are always at risk of injury from even a minor trip or fall - with nobody there to tend to them afterward, any accident can be a serious one. Alert necklaces and watches are one of the top selling safety solutions to at-home accidents by providing the individual with simple, one press alarm that calls for an ambulance in the event of a serious accident.

Restricted Mobility Around the Home

Physical limitations and disability can also restrict basic movement around the home. Stairs, entranceways and ledges can become difficult to navigate with disability and poor mobility - especially if the person in question relies on a wheelchair. Nobody wants to have to move home to keep their independence, especially if they have lived there for years.

There are many solutions to breaking down the barriers that poor mobility can cause. Stair lifts are a fantastic way to make all levels of the home accessible while platform lifts can make wheelchair access easy both inside and outside the home. These new technologies are fantastic alternatives to concrete ramps and often a lot more affordable than expensive construction work.

Difficulty Getting Out of the House

Maintaining independence in the home also means successfully completing day-to-day activities and errands like grocery shopping. Physical and mental impairment can cause issues, especially poor mobility, hearing and vision loss. Mobility scooters are one solution that makes travelling to the store a breeze while some carers offer errand running and shopping services to take the stress out of day-to-day life. Those who are a bit more tech savvy might be able to find solutions online through internet grocery shopping - a service that many supermarkets offer - or with a simple food box delivery set up by a family member.

Maintaining independence is incredibly important for a lot of elderly people. Age can bring with it all kinds of problems, but most of these obstacles are easy to overcome. Create a more friendly home life for your relative by seeing to these issues as they develop.