Assisted Living Decorating Ideas to Make Your Parents More Comfortable

12Oaks-Elderly woman sitting in an armchair in her home-as-Assisted Living Decorating Ideas to Make Your Parents More Comfortable-Feature

In This Article

When repurposing your home for assisted living, safety and comfort is a priority.

Of course, you always want your parents to live in an environment where everything is accessible and pleasurable. But the current interior design of your home doesn’t look like that. This point is where decoration specifically for assisted living is crucial.

Learn four assisted living decorating ideas drawn from tried-and-true principles to help your loved ones feel secure at home.

 

Assisted Living Decorating Ideas That Make Home Feel Safe and Cozy

Build a Large Area With Senior-friendly Furniture

Suitable Room Sizes for Seniors

12Oaks-Elderly man using laptop computer-as-Build a Large Area With Senior-friendly Furniture

Everyone wants to live in a spacious house so that it’s possible to carry out activities that benefit our living. Seniors are no exception. Some people enjoy dancing, listening to music, and doing crafts. And these leisure interests need (a lot of) space.

However, assisted living homes are not one-size-fits-all. Each person and situation calls for a different room size, depending on their needs. From studio to two-bedroom, there are many options to choose from. “What size do my parents need?” – you may find yourself asking.

A 500 sq ft studio is enough if your parents don’t cook very often and can carry out daily activities without too much space. Otherwise, if your parents love a more breathable room, you may want to choose a 1000 sq ft one-bedroom or bigger.

 

Senior-friendly Furniture Tips

It can be challenging for your parents to feel comfortable with regular home furnishings. Senior-friendly furniture is a solution. With furniture made for the difficulties they experience, daily life for the elderly becomes more manageable.

Include these furniture items in your assisted living home:

  • Recliner chairs with sit-stand support products
  • Adjustable beds with knee pillows or laptop tables
  • Bathroom accessories, such as shower chairs
  • Rolling tray tables for the sofa, chair, and bed
  • Non-slip grip mat for shower and tub
  • Wireless headphones for hearing loss
  • Mini exercise equipment for keeping fit

 

Paint White and Add Colors With Flowers

Why Light & Neutral Colors

12Oaks-senior lady relaxing on the sofa reading a book and drinking a fruit juice-as-Paint White and Add Colors With Flowers

Any small room will feel more spacious when painted in white, light, or neutral colors like ivory, beige, straw, cream, or light gray. These colors add an airy and fresh quality to the room. Also, small spaces come to life if the trim is painted in contrasting colors.

 

Flowers That Benefit Seniors

If you can’t repaint your house, decorating the space with colorful and pleasant-smelling flowers is a good idea. Research has shown that some flowers may psychologically benefit older people who live in an assisted living environment.

According to a study by the University of New Jersey with more than 100 senior participants, 81% of seniors who received flowers reported less depression. In addition, 40% increased their social activity, and 72% performed better on memory tests.

Flowers are helpful in small areas as they give life to the room. For example, put a fiddle-leaf fig in the corner or arrange succulent pots on the windowsill for a touch of green. The fiddle-leaf fig prefers regular water and light, whereas succulents don’t need much care.

Some other flower choices include:

  • Roses
  • Gerberas
  • Irises
  • Lilies
  • Orchids

 

Attach Safety Grab Bars in Crucial Positions

Where to Install Grab Bars

12Oaks-Elderly old woman use toilet support rail in bathroom, handrail safety grab bar-as-Attach Safety Grab Bars in Crucial Positions

Safety grab bars are necessary if your parents find it challenging to maintain balance or are likely to fall down the stairway due to vision problems. Please don’t be hesitant to install grab bars in your or your parent’s home, despite their reputation for looking clinical.

Some vital positions in your home that require grab bars include:

  • On the side wall closest to the toilet
  • On the back wall behind the toilet
  • On the wall next to the shower or tub
  • In the kitchen, hallway, and bedrooms

 

The grab bar should be 33-36 inches (840-915mm) high. This range is due to the average height and everyday usage. Ensure that nothing extends more than 12 inches above the grab bar to give room for it in case someone loses their balance and stumbles.

 

Which Type to Choose

Grab bars come in various types and sizes. The most common grab bar types include:

  • Wall-mounted. Using anchors and mounting screws, these grab bars are mounted firmly to the wall.
  • Bathtub-mounted. The grab bar’s adjustable clamps, designed to fit over the tub rim, give stability when getting in and out of the bathtub.
  • Suction. These grab bars work as a temporary solution when traveling or healing from specific injuries. They attach to the wall with suction cups.
  • Folding. When not in use, these grab bars can fold down to preserve space in confined spaces, such as next to a toilet or sink.
  • Free-standing. These grab bars are often placed next to the bathtub or shower to help with entry and exit.

 

The cost of grab bars varies depending on the type, style, size, and material. Typically, wall grab bars should start from $15 to $80. Free-standing grab bars range from $30 to $100, while floor-to-ceiling grab bars range from $140 to $300.

 

Give Rooms Plenty of Light and Ventilation

How Much Light Is Enough?

The incidence of falling is higher in a poorly lit home. So, adequate lighting is a crucial safety feature for an assisted living setting. No matter where in the house it is, the room needs over 1500 lumens of clear lighting and reachable switches for turning them on and off.

Also, the ability to see in the cool range in older eyes is reduced because their lenses tend to be yellow with age. For this reason, warm light is perceived as darker than cool-colored light. So install cooler lighting to compensate for the natural decline of older people’s vision.

 

How to Increase Ventilation

Increasing ventilation brings multiple benefits to older people. First, it helps reduce the harmful particles in your home’s air and prevent viruses from spreading. Second, it psychologically soothes the person who has respiratory problems.

For these reasons, improve ventilation in your home using as many ways as possible, such as opening windows, air filters, and turning on fans. Although it’s best to open windows and doors entirely, even a tiny crack can help.

Moving air outside can be helped by exhaust fans installed above your stove top and in your bathroom. Even though some stove exhaust fans don’t blow air out, they can still increase airflow by diffusing the air in one place.

 

12 Oaks Assisted Living Makes It Feel Like Home

Whatever room size or daily necessities your parents need, 12 Oaks has it all to make them feel at home. In addition, in our communities, your beloved family members will benefit from various types of well-decorated areas that provide high safety and comfort.

A senior assisted living community can be the perfect solution when your loved one needs more assistance than you and other family members can provide at home. At 12 Oaks, assisted living is provided with the cozy comforts of home.

 

If you have questions about assisted living decorating ideas or any conditions discussed here, connect with us and learn more. 

At 12 Oaks, our team of caring professionals is dedicated to keeping residents safe, engaged, and connected to their families and friends while leading fulfilling lives. Thus, 12 Oaks communities are an ideal place to enjoy the encore season of life.

Don’t hesitate to contact us for questions or to schedule a personalized tour. 

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At 12 Oaks Senior Living, we would love to learn more about your unique needs and the opportunity we may have to help you meet them. Our blog is one of the valuable resources we provide to inform and encourage seniors to lead fulfilling and thriving lives. Contact us today to schedule a visit.

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