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Have you made any small home changes to make life safer as you get older?

(102 Posts)
OliviaRema Wed 10-Dec-25 08:35:29

Hi again, my children have started gently nagging me about “making the house safer” as I get older – things like better lighting on the stairs, extra rails, non-slip bits in the bathroom, that sort of thing. I can see their point, as my joints aren’t quite what they used to be, but I don’t want to turn the place into a building site or spend a fortune.

Have any of you made small, age-friendly changes at home that have actually helped day to day? Simple things like where you keep everyday bits, little tweaks in the bathroom or kitchen, or low-cost gadgets that made more difference than you expected.

Oldnproud Thu 18-Dec-25 18:00:34

kittylester

Oldnproud

A small, plug-in night light on the landing, to minimise the risk of anyone accidentally falling down the stairs while making their way to the bathroom in the dark.
This so nearly happened to me while still in my fifties, but I am sure the risk of this sort of thing happening grows with age.

Why do people put landing lights off overnight. We have always left a light on since we had children.

I can't answer for anyone else, but I don't like the landing light on during the night because I like the bedroom as dark as possible. Even with the door fully closed, too much light can be seen for my liking. I suppose that it wouldn't matter if I slept solidly all night, but I don't.