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Should my elderly relative move to a bungalow?

Written by Posted On Tuesday, 26 February 2019 11:58
Should my elderly relative move to a bungalow?

No one wants to move home in their old age – in fact, according to Live-in Care Hub most of us want to stay put in our own home. Unfortunately, not all homes are suitable for those with limited mobility and sooner or later it may become apparent that your elderly relative is struggling, especially with the stairs. Has the time come to look for a bungalow or single storey property?

What’s their mobility like?

A test often used when assessing mobility is the “Timed Up and Go” test. The elderly person is asked to stand up from a chair, walk three metres and return to seated while being timed. Times of 10 seconds or less are expected from those with no mobility problems, whilst times of over 14 seconds may be associated with a higher risk of falls.

Are there lots of stairs?

Modern townhouses are often laid out on multiple levels with lots of stairs to get from one level to the next. This sort of house can be extremely frustrating for someone with mobility issues and may warrant a move to more suitable accomodation.

Even a standard two-storey house can be unsuitable if there is only one bathroom and toilet and that is upstairs. If there is scope for adding downstairs facilities it may be more worthwhile in the long-term to simply perform the necessary modifications and move the elderly person’s bedroom downstairs rather than move their entire home to a new location.

If there is only a single flight of stairs it may be cheaper to install a stairlift than move home, especially once the estate agents and solicitors fees are included. Even curved stairs can be fitted with a stairlift with modern modular designs that negate the need for custom rails.

An alternative to a bungalow for wheelchair users may be a homelift – a moving platform between floors which can allow them to go upstairs without assistance.

What help do they have?

Having someone to help them climb the stairs to bed may be the difference between needing to move home and not. A live in carer can be on hand 24 hours a day to fetch items from the other floor or provide support and assistance on the stairs. Some specially trained carers can use stairclimbers if fitting lifts is not possible. Remember that even occasional companion care or respite care can ease the burden and avoid a move in the short-term.

What’s the outside access like?

While stairs inside can be fitted with a stairlift or rooms rearranged if the house is located in a hilly area it may not be the most suitable location for someone with limited mobility. External lifts and stairlifts can be fitted, but sloping roads may have the final say in whether the elderly person is able to do much outside their home.

What’s the alternative?

Finally, when looking at new homes it is important to consider what impact the move will have on the elderly person. Will they still be able to meet up with friends? Do they have dementia and will they find moving disorientating?

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Julie Lord

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