Life brings with it so many twists and turns, its unpredictable; it’s exciting, it’s an adventure. It’s not always easy but after the downs comes to the ups and you have to take the rough with the smooth. It’s good to know though that with whatever changes life may throw at you, you can adapt and work with them…and so can your house.
Having a Baby
One of life’s gifts and often one of the best things to ever happen to someone. But it can be so overwhelming; you only have nine months to get yourself together, to get ready and to get your house ready too. Don’t panic though; there’s no need to renovate completely. Luckily the baby doesn’t do much in the beginning, so there is no need to baby proof the house straight away. You have about eight months until they can start exploring and then it’s quite easy to make your home a safe space for them. Softening hard edges with cushioned corner guards and edge protector strips, tidy away any loose wires, buy stair-gates and fire guards and make sure you Lock kitchen cupboards.
Getting Older/Having an Elderly Relative Move In
You might be getting to a point where you need some assistance as you get older or perhaps you are just preparing for the future. Either way, again there’s no need to move house or renovate completely, with a few small changes you can make your home very accessible. An extra banister rail or a stairlift can make getting up and down the stairs easier. Baths with a side opening are now available meaning you don’t have to climb over the side or you could even swap your bathroom for a ‘wet room’ style shower meaning you can walk straight in.
Adapting to Disability
If a member of your family with a disability moves into your home or a member of your family becomes disabled, then again there are a few ways you can quickly adapt to their needs. Each person is different, so of course it does depend on the individual circumstances, and of course, it is possible that you or your family member will be eligible for re-housing. However, if this is not the case, there are things you can do. As well as the accessible options mentioned above, there are also domestic lifts from www.terrylifts.co.uk if stairs are not an option anymore. You can change one of the downstairs rooms to a bedroom, install access ramps, widening doorways and lower kitchen worktops.
If you’re struggling to cope with life changes, then remember to ask for support, speak to people about what’s going on, don’t try to deal with everything all on your own. Do your best to look after yourself as much as possible. If it feels like this change isn’t a good one, then do try and look for the positives and remember that it will get better.
Collaborative Post
So many positives from caring – in the process of converting our home so it’s user friendly for dad – saving hard to afford a wet room – will give him so much freedom ( and me too )