Budget-Friendly Ways to Prepare When a Senior Loved One Moves In

It’s common for family caregivers to live with their senior loved ones. In addition to making the caregiving process more convenient, this is a great chance to bond with your loved one and get to know them better. AARP suggests that moving in with family is a good way to stave off senior isolation and depression as well. If you’re properly prepared for this move, it can be a beneficial arrangement for everyone. But you don’t have to spend a fortune to outfit your home with accessibility features or safety elements. Thriving explains some essential ways you can affordably prepare your home for a senior loved one.

Go Shopping for Essentials

When a senior loved one comes to live with you long-term, you probably need to shop for basic essentials and a few bigger items. For example, a new mattress may be a necessity if your senior’s bed is lacking support. You may also need to pick up new towels and bedding to accommodate an extra person in your home. If you’re looking for quality budget-friendly products you can save even more money on these purchases by shopping during sales and obtaining promo codes and coupons. By doing some smart shopping, you’ll be able to make your loved one feel at home with affordable luxury necessities.

Make Room for Extra Stuff

Your loved one will likely bring quite a few possessions along that you will need to make room for in your home. If they don’t plan to hold onto everything, help them sort their stuff and downsize their belongings. Selling unwanted items can help your loved one pay for medical supplies or new furniture for their room. Then, try to find an affordable storage solution for everything else.

Consider Low-Cost Accessibility Upgrades

Before your loved one comes to stay with you, ensure that your home is safe and accessible so they will feel independent and secure as they go about their day. While massive accessibility upgrades can vastly improve the quality of life for people aging in place, there are many ways to convert a home into a senior-friendly living space without draining your savings.

• Use offset hinges to expand your doorways
• Add Lazy Susans to your pantry
• Replace doorknobs with lever-style handles
• In the bathroom, install grab bars and lay down some non-slip mats
• You may also want to add non-slip strips to your staircases and outdoor walkways to prevent falls*
• Extra lighting can be beneficial for seniors with limited vision, so add a couple of lamps to illuminate the dark corners of your home.

Make the Most of Your Financial Resources

As you prepare your home to welcome your senior loved one, make sure you take advantage of any financial resources available to you. For example, Medicare covers certain medical equipment deemed necessary by a doctor. This includes:

• Hospital beds
• Commode chairs
• Patient lifts
• CPAP devices
• Traction equipment
• Walkers
• Wheelchairs

Medicaid may help with the costs of certain home modifications, like wheelchair ramps or bathroom upgrades. According to HuffPost, there are also many local and state programs that can help you get funding to make accessibility modifications. Non-profit organizations also exist to help low-income seniors and veterans who want to age in place.

Having a senior move in with you doesn’t have to feel overwhelmingly stressful or be expensive. Being a family caregiver does come with its share of challenges, but it can also be a very rewarding experience for both you and your senior loved one. Try to make the most of this time to reconnect with your loved one and make memories that you will cherish forever.

Written By: Harry Cline

*Did you know that one in four older Americans experiences a fall annually? Learn more about this important topic and how to assist your senior to prevent falls.