A house fit for the elderly

Lifestyle has undergone a significant change in India. The nuclear family system has increased the number of elderly couples staying on their own, with little assistance from their children in their day-to-day chores and house-related work. This new set-up, thus, demands planning your house in a manner that ensures maximum convenience in old age. Here are some features apart from having wheel-chair friendly entrances and provison for lifts etc, that can make living convenient for the elderly:   

Install CCTV system: Installation of CCTV system in the house brings much convenience to an old couple if the cameras are installed strategically to keep an eye on main gate, kitchen and other essential areas. With this an elderly couple can also keep an eye on their house while being outstation through CCTV app installed on their mobile phones.

Provide grip handles in bathrooms: Grip handles are a small yet extremely useful addition to your bathrooms as well as the entrance areas. In the bathroom get one near the WC and another near the shower area or bathing faucets. 

Similarly the provision of SS railing along main door step is required if there are three or four steps at the main entrance of your house.

Keep same floor level inside the house: A few years back, providing different floor levels in different rooms within the house was a popular trend as it added an artistic touch to a house. But this is not comfortable for the elderly especially if they are using a wheel-chair or a walker to move around. Avoid such an arrangement in houses to be used by the elderly and keep all rooms at same level. 

Make dishwasher provision: Dishwashers have come of age now and are not only convenient to use but also reduce dependence on house help.   These get accommodated in the kitchen very conveniently if their provision is planned at the initial stage itself and the necessary water inlet and drainage system and power connection are planned accordingly.

Provide efficient inverter system or power back-up: Make provision of effective inverter system in your house so that an aged person is not left groping in the dark in case of a sudden power outage. These days apartments generally have a power back-up system provided by the builders. So, there is no necessity of an  inverter there, but in case of an independent house it is best to have wiring for inverter added at the construction stage only.

Make use of piped gas: In case piped gas is available in the city, you should take benefit of its convenience. Its provision can be easily made up to the kitchen even if it is not  available in your city at present. The provision of piped gas will eliminate the hassle of removing empty gas cylinders and installing new ones in their place and storing filled cylinders, which can be a strenuous task for the seniors.