Easy Ways to Help Your Aging Parents Safely Live at Home

Tackle each room of the house

Why not help your parents make minor changes to stay mobile? "The whole idea is to keep them in their own home, in their comfort zone, but set it up so they can move around and be safe," says Dave Pazgan, CEO of 101 Mobility.
Bathroom: Grab bars, which cost as little as $20 at places like Home Depot, are an inexpensive way to prevent falls for seniors who can slip when they're getting up from the toilet or out of the shower. Nonskid mats are also low-tech, cheap, and effective. So are nightlights. To help your parents stay comfortable, safe and clean, invest in a shower chair and removable shower nozzles. You may even want to consider a battery-operated bath lift, which can help your parents get in and out of the tub.
Living Room: To avoid extension cords (a tripping hazard), place lamps close to electrical outlets. And to make it easier for your parents to get up, consider a lift chair — a motorized recliner that tilts them at an angle to more easily get out of the sitting position.
Kitchen: To prevent serious injuries during falls, make sure counters and tabletops have rounded "bullnose" corners. Move most-used pots, pans, and dishware to low shelves so your parents don't need to use steps stools or ladders to reach what they need. And consider an automatic shutoff switch on the stove.
Indoor staircases: Ensure the handrails are sturdy and that the stairs are well-lit.  If seniors have severe trouble getting up and down the stairs, outside or indoors, consider installing a ramp or an electronic lift to alleviate any struggles. "Just getting in and out of someone's home can be a challenge," says Pazgan. "A lot of homes aren't built on a level entry." Ramps can range in price from a few hundred dollars to $7,000 and up for fancier vertical platform lifts that are almost like miniature elevators, he says. A standard chair lift (essentially a motorized rail system with a chair mounted on it that rides up and down the steps) can cost $3,000 or $4,000. (For curved stairs, you may need to invest in a custom lift.)
Outside steps: If your parent uses a wheelchair, you may want to invest in a $100 or $200 portable ramp that can make a big difference going over curbs. The National Institute on  Aging recommends considering a ramp with handrails as an alternative to steps and installing better lighting.
Meanwhile, once you've tackled physical improvements to the house, you can take on physical improvements to your parents' bodies, too. Encourage your mom and dad to exercise, offer to do it with them, and show them helpful websites. For example, the National Institute on Aging's Go4Life program gives seniors an interactive tool to help them keep track of their activity. You may even want to try it yourself.