To help you find a construction-free way of improving independence in your home, we asked business leaders and entrepreneurs this question for their best tips.
There are several tips for construction-free ways of improving independence in your home, from smart storage spaces to AI-powered technology.
Here are 7 construction-free ways of improving independence in a home:
- Stair Lifts
- Smart Storage Spaces For Toys
- Dishwasher
- Child Independence
- Simplifying Everyday Items
- AI-Powered Technology
- Smart Watches
Stair lifts
Stair lifts are a cost-effective and construction-free way of gaining independence throughout your entire home. Since 1985, we’ve seen thousands of customers unable to access their entire home due to stairs safely.
Stair lifts don’t require structural modifications and are versatile enough to be installed on straight or curved staircases.
The bottom line is that if a person is looking to gain independence in a home, stair chair lifts are a seamless way to overcome accessibility challenges.
Brett Torfin, Arrow Lift
Smart Storage Spaces For Toys
With 3 kids, the most significant restriction on home independence is toys. Grandparents have lovingly bestowed our family with items like a miniature rideable pony, kid-sized kitchens, and lots of things with wheels.
To reclaim our home, installing smart storage spaces that encourage our children to pick up after themselves is a must.
Everything has a place, and by creating those places for kids to put their things away, parents and families to improve their home independence.
Brett Farmiloe, Markitors
Dishwasher
Adding a dishwasher can instantly grant a homeowner independence. Rather than doing dishes by hand night after night, installing a dishwasher can liberate an evening for entertaining and relaxing.
Dishwasher installs don’t require construction and are a fairly straightforward process involving a cabinet installer and a plumber. If you don’t have a dishwasher in your home, adding 1 can free up the kitchen sink.
Alex Belladorsi, Appliance Technician
Child Independence
Home independence is essential for individuals of all ages—adults and children. Here at Cadence Education, our schools are designed to help children find their independence.
Our small group learning and the use of center-based play experiences allow our students to build confidence and skills so they can navigate the classroom and the home independently.
In addition to the children feeling more confident and independent, parents also get a healthy dose of independence knowing their children are both capable and accountable.
Jeanne Kolpek, Cadence Education
Simplifying Everyday Items
If the homeowner is not older or mobility impaired, invite someone older or mobility impaired to walk through the home and offer tips and suggestions.
For example, can someone comfortably negotiate all doorways, easily use all of the plumbing fixtures, and easily access light switches, appliances, and items in the kitchen?
I had drawers installed in lower kitchen cabinets that gave me the ability to access everything more easily. I also changed door and plumbing hardware from knobs to easier-to-use flipper handles.
Better lighting throughout a home, especially voice-activated lighting, is also a great feature. All of these things can help to make or keep a homeowner more independent in their home.
Colleen McManus, Senior HR Executive, and Consultant
AI-Powered Technology
One way of improving the accessibility of a home without doing physical alterations and construction work is by adding AI-powered technology to control appliances in your house.
This could help people with mobility, agility, and other physical disabilities. For example, Alexa from Amazon can control lights, provide radio service, play music, a video doorbell, find cooking recipes, etc.
If someone is in bed, they can turn lights on and off purely with voice control, and the special lights, power sockets, etc., can all be added without any special wiring.
Alexa now even has features to help a family member or carer monitor an elderly loved one’s safety in their house. Add an Apple watch to be worn by the person, and you can monitor them continuously if they have a fall or heart attack—amazing.
Dale Reardon, Travel For All
Smart Watches
These devices perform multiple features that help vulnerable individuals function in self-sustaining environments. GPS tracking can help locate residents with dementia or other mental impairments prone to wandering.
Health monitoring can alert loved ones to changes in vitals and updates telemedical providers. Plus, many other automatic health-recording apps, such as sleep trackers, fitness measuring tools, and WebMD apps, help users keep a better handle on health.
Smartwatch calling and messaging features enable residents to make phone calls from anywhere in the house, which mainly comes in handy in case of an accident, such as a slip in the bathroom or locking oneself out of the house.
Users can also schedule reminders and alerts for events like taking pills or completing errands. Also, wearable communication gives relatives direct access and improved peace of mind.
Michael Alexis, Teambuilding
Conclusion
Above are the top 7 construction-free ways suggested by experts that you can try with your home. We hope with our article, you will find the most suitable and practical solutions to improve your independence at home.
