Preparing Your Home for an Older Adult

 

Preparing Your Home for an Older Adult: A Family Guide

Modern families face many challenges when sharing their home with a parent or grandparent. Loss of privacy, changes in daily routines, and even overcrowding are sometimes overlooked when discussing future plans of an aging loved one. When a senior adult moves in, especially one that may need care or extra assistance, will affect family schedules and routines, independence, privacy and personal space.


Personal Reflection & Family Structure

My family household includes my mother and father, myself, and my fiancé. If an older adult were to move in with us full-time, we would need to make several adjustments. There is a lot of thought that needs to go into such an enormous lifestyle change. Some include creating a safe and comfortable living space, sharing caregiving responsibilities, and adjusting daily routines.


Different Family Structures & Their Challenges

1. Single-Parent Household
A single parent may struggle to balance caregiving with work and childcare responsibilities. This often increases stress and may require outside support such as home health services.

2. Blended Family
Blended families may experience disagreements about caregiving roles, finances, or decision-making. Clear communication is essential to avoid conflict.

3. Long-Distance Families
When family members live far apart, caregiving often falls on one person. This can lead to caregiver burnout and emotional exhaustion, and even familial relationship strain. Research shows that caregivers often feel overwhelmed when support is limited (Wolff et al., 2020).

Each family structure presents its own challenges. To overcome them, we must plan properly and communicate.


What ALL Families Should Consider

According to Touhy and Jett (2020), families should carefully plan before bringing an older adult into the home to reduce stress and improve care.


Important Questions to Ask

  • What level of care does the older adult need?
  • Who will be responsible for daily care?
  • What are the financial expectations?
  • Are legal documents such as a living will or power of attorney in place?
  • How does the older adult feel about the move? 



Home Modifications

Simple home changes can greatly improve safety and independence. Recommended modifications include installing grab bars, improving lighting, and removing fall hazards (NIA, 2023). In some cases, ramps, wider doorways, or medical equipment may also be needed.


To make the home more elderly-friendly, we would add:

  • Grab bars in the shower and near the toilet
  • Non-slip mats in bathrooms and kitchens
  • Brighter lighting in hallways and stairways
  • A shower chair and raised toilet seat
  • Removal of rugs or clutter to prevent falls

These modifications are important because falls are a leading cause of injury and morbidity among older adults, making prevention strategies a necessity (Guirguis-Blake et al., 2024). Creating a safe environment supports independence and overall well-being (National Institute on Aging [NIA], 2023).



Potential Areas of Conflict

  • Loss of independence for the older adult
  • Caregiver stress and fatigue
  • Disagreements about finances or medical decisions
  • Lack of privacy for both the older adult and family members 

Ways to Reduce Conflict

Touhy and Jett (2020) explain that communication and respect are important in reducing family conflict. 

Strategies include:

  • Respect privacy: Install locks on doors or use a “Do Not Disturb” sign
  • Set clear roles: Assign caregiving responsibilities among family members
  • Hold regular family meetings: Encourage open discussion
  • Promote independence: Allow the older adult to remain as independent as possible
  • Use respite care: Give caregivers time to rest


Strong communication and shared responsibilities have been shown to improve caregiver experiences and outcomes for older adults (Wolff et al., 2020).


Here are some helpful resources at your fingertips!


Final Thoughts


Welcoming an older adult into your home can be a rewarding experience. However, it requires planning, teamwork, and open communication. By having clearly defined roles, making the home safe, and using available resources, families can create a supportive environment that promotes both safety and dignity.






References

Burns, E. R., & Kakara, R. (2022). Deaths from falls among persons aged ≥65 years — United States, 2007–2016. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 70(2), 366–373. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.17516

CBS6 Albany. (2013, February 26). Six on seniors: when parents move in with adult parents [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcT3Wsl5lQY

National Institute on Aging. (2023). Home safety tips for older adults. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/aging-place/home-safety-tips-older-adults

Touhy, T. A., & Jett, K. (2020). Ebersole and Hess’ toward healthy aging: Human needs and nursing response (10th ed.). Elsevier.

Wolff, J. L., Freedman, V. A., Mulcahy, J. F., & Kasper, J. D. (2020). Family caregivers’ experiences with health care workers in the care of older adults with activity limitations. JAMA Network Open, 3(1), e1919866. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.19866

 

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