A Makati condo is not something only young couples or small families invest in. Older people who want to retire in a small place that needs little to no maintenance and parents who have children with special needs also prefer a condominium or a mid-sized apartment. However, they need to make sure that they make their homes safe and comfortable.
Make Your Home Safe
Falling or slipping is the most common accident older people have. To minimize the chances of a fall, make sure that you focus on eliminating the external factors that can cause these accidents in your Makati apartment. Lighting is very important. Make sure that your Makati condo has well lit stairways. If you have a home that has risers, like the ones installed to help you reach the upper shelves, make sure that you get ones in bright colors, so they can easily be spotted. Replace your bathroom rugs with sticky mats and skid proof rugs. Avoid clutter, especially on the floor. Even the smallest things, like a pen or a small pillow, can cause falls.
Call in experts
A lot of homeowners cannot really objectively look at their Makati condo and point out the danger spots and make the proper changes. It is a good idea to get an occupational therapist or an interior decorator that specializes in childproof designs. They can come over to assess your home and make recommendations about how to make your home safer. This is covered by medical insurance, especially if a doctor recommends that an elderly person or a child with special needs get a “home assessment.”
DIY it
If you do not feel like an expert is necessary, or if you want to do it yourself, here are a few guidelines to make your Makati apartment safer:
For stairs and doorways, make sure that you eliminate as much clutter as possible. Doormats and scatter rugs, if you must have them, should be skid proof. Install handrails on both sides of the stairs. You can also use non-skid tapes on the edges of each stair. If you are living in the Makati condo with someone who has impaired vision, get bright, neon-colored no-skid tape.
For the bathroom, install grab bars. The most common bathrooms accidents involve people slipping or falling because they grabbed onto the towel bar or the sink to get out of the shower or to get up from the toilet. These are not stable and can break when someone’s entire weight is shifted to it.
The Philippine real estate market is full of beautiful condo units and apartments. Consult with a real estate professional and ask which ones are easier to customize for the elderly or other people who need special care.
