Creating a safe, accessible living space when living with a long-term illness or disability can improve your overall health and well-being.
According to Nuffield Health, over 15 million people in England live with an incurable but controllable health issue or long-term condition. Ensuring your home is adapted to your health condition or disability is crucial to living independently.
Our article has tips for creating a safe home environment for complex care needs.
Create Private, Personalised Spaces
If you live with a learning disability or chronic health condition, it is essential to create spaces where you can relax and unwind. Designing these spaces within your living space can create a calm and enjoyable environment, reducing anxiety and stress. Our complex care professionals can work with you and your family to create a private space that allows you to be independent.
Remove Clutter and Potential Hazards
Potential hazards and clutter can make your home stressful and challenging to navigate when living with a disability or long-term health condition. A clutter-free environment reduces confusion, stress and injuries when navigating your home. When adapting your environment, consider the following:
- Simplify areas that might get easily cluttered, like wardrobes, kitchen drawers and bathroom cupboards.
- Remove any items that could cause falls or injuries, like trailing wires or loose rugs.
- Create predictability and familiarity by having designated spots for your most used items.
- Utilise large labels with clear pictures and words to make finding items easy around your home.
Adapt Your Home’s Lighting
Too much artificial light in your home can lead to overstimulation, making you feel overwhelmed and frustrated.
However, poorly placed lighting can increase your risk of falls and injuries. Adapting the lighting in your home can reduce any sensory sensitivities while also making your living space safer. Some ideas for adapting your home’s lighting may include:
- Implementing fluorescent bulbs to decrease sensory overload.
- Allowing plenty of natural light to travel into various areas of your home.
- Using coloured LED lights gives you options to customise the tone of your lighting in many rooms of your house or apartment.
Implement Safety Equipment
Installing safety equipment in the kitchen and bathroom can reduce slips, trips or fire hazards. Implementing handrails, smoke detectors, and adjustable equipment in your bathroom or kitchen can safeguard your home from potential fire or injuries. Ensure all alarms are regularly tested to give you peace of mind, knowing your home is safe.
Choose Sova Healthcare for Bespoke Complex Care
Are you living with a long-term health condition or disability and needing complex care? Our experienced healthcare professionals have worked with hundreds of clients to deliver a high-quality complex care service nationwide. Contact our team today about how we can provide an exceptional complex care service from your home.