Hosting visiting parents and grandparents goes more smoothly when the seating, bathroom, lighting and guest bed suit how they get around. Older relatives usually have well-worn routines at home, including a favourite chair and a familiar route to the bathroom at night, and a visit feels easier for everyone when they find something similar at yours as soon as they walk in.
Most of the useful changes are small, inexpensive and quick to finish before anyone arrives. A few considered additions in the living room, bathroom and guest bedroom do a great deal for comfort without a full redecoration, and they leave your relatives free to enjoy the visit instead of adjusting to unfamiliar furniture and dim corners.
Seating and Bathroom Touches
A firm cushion, a sensible seat height and sturdy arms make a chair comfortable to sit in and easy to rise from, and older visitors notice that straight away. A riser recliner goes a step further for relatives who spend long evenings in one seat, and it’s worth taking time to browse the range of riser recliners and bathroom equipment before the visit. A side table within arm’s reach gives them somewhere for a cup of tea and their reading glasses. In the bathroom, a mat with good grip in the shower, a rail beside the toilet and a small stool for dressing are quick additions that leave the room looking much as it did.
Lighting and Clear Walkways
Fit brighter bulbs in the hallway, on the landing and around the stairs so each step edge is easy to see, and leave a night light on the route to the bathroom so there’s no hunting for a switch in the dark. Trailing cables, shoes and bags are quick to move aside, and the staircase itself is best left completely clear, since objects left on the steps are among the more common causes of trips on stairs. A handrail on both sides, where the staircase has room, adds extra confidence on the way up and down.
The Guest Bedroom
Check the bed height first, because feet that rest flat on the floor when someone sits on the edge make it much easier to stand up again, and a firm mattress edge gives them something to push from. Place a lamp with an easy switch beside the pillow, then add a chair for dressing and a stool or bench for the suitcase so nobody has to bend down to the floor. Temperature affects sleep as well, so show them how to adjust the heating and leave a spare throw on the bed in case the night turns cool.
Planning Around Their Preferences
Ask about stairs, bathing, the chair they like best and how warm they like the room, since a short call or message before the visit gives better guidance than any generic list. Every household’s needs differ, so adjust the plan around what they say. Most of these additions cost little and stay useful long after the weekend, so even a single visit is a good reason to begin, and the next one will feel easier for everyone involved.
