Adjustments to Make to Your Dining Room to Help You Age in Place

In the United States, 77% of adults aged 50 and above prefer to age in place. Aging in place is characterized by staying in your own home as you get older, maintaining independence while enjoying a well-deserved retirement. Staying in a familiar environment can help an older person remain socially connected to friends and family, thus fueling a stronger sense of identity. After all, nothing beats the comfort of your own home. This is probably why the percentage of senior adults living in their own houses has increased over the past 20 years, according to a study published in The Journals of Gerontology.

However, some homes or living situations may not always be friendly or conducive for aging in place. For instance, having steep steps or excessive home furniture can act as obstacles that hinder mobility for aging adults. Some areas in the house, including the dining room where socialization usually occurs, might also require minor renovations to make the aging-in-place process easier for older adults. That said, here are some adjustments that you can make to your dining room to help you age in place:

Use a more accessible dining set

One way of ensuring a smooth aging-in-place process is to use a dining set that promotes accessibility. Opt for a dining table with a bench, such as the Felix Toasted Natural Oak or Ashford II dining table. Unlike the traditional dining table and chair setup, the benches included in these dining sets make it easier to sit down and get up from the table, helping you avoid the mishaps that can occur due to the overbalancing of heavy chairs. A bench also provides more space that allows older adults to move more freely while eating, unlike some chairs that might be too small and difficult to maneuver in. Using a bench also minimizes the need for extra chairs, which can reduce clutter in your dining space.

Place a non-slip rug on your floor

More than one in four people aged 65 and above suffer from falls each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This could lead to broken bones, such as hip fractures or, worse, head injuries, which can be fatal for older adults with more fragile bones. Spilled water or slippery surfaces in the dining room can increase this risk. That said, placing a non-slip rug like the Jonathan Adler x Ruggable collection on your dining room floor is all the more crucial to prevent slips and falls. Aside from being non-slip, these rugs can also resist dirt, dust, and spills to keep them easy to clean and reduce the need for frequent washing. A non-slip rug is especially useful if your dining room floor is made up of slippery materials like tiles.

Keep your pantry shelves lower

Research published by the National Institutes of Health shows that shoulder strength significantly decreases with age, with reduced strength being more prominent among older adults aged 66 years and above. Keeping your pantry shelves at an optimal level is thus important to help you access your dining room essentials much easier. Reaching for kitchenware, seasonings, and other essentials from high-level pantry shelves can also be painful for older people who have osteoarthritis, which affects nearly one in three people over the age of 60. You can try storing pantry essentials using the mDesign Plastic Kitchen Organizer Storage Bins or the Roufa Clear Acrylic Shelf Dividers, which can be placed on the same level as your dining table for more convenient access.

Aging in place may be ideal if you wish to stay connected with friends and loved ones. Just be sure to follow these dining room adjustments to help you enjoy a hazard-free and safe eating environment.