Staying in our own homes during retirement can be a reality for many of us. It can be comforting to live in a place you feel truly at ease.
Plus, moving is so stressful! I feel like I’m still getting settled from my move last summer.
While there are plenty of options to move to a new place for retirement, that just may not be for you. But if you want to stay at home for as long as possible, you may need to make adjustments to your home.
I’ve got some inexpensive ways you can upgrade your home and make it safer.
(Want to do your own home audit? Use this checklist from the National Institute on Aging.)
Make Lightbulbs Last Longer
Something as simple as changing a lightbulb can be tricky if your bulbs are burning out quickly. Make the switch to LED and make them even easier with these smart bulbs from Amazon. You can get them in color-changing bulbs or regular and control them with your Alexa or even an app on your phone. Set up simple routines to make your home look occupied when you’re gone or just make it easier to use them from anywhere in the home. These are the perfect smart-home upgrades!
Stay Safe from Smoke and Carbon Monoxide
Those old smoke detectors are only good if you remember to replace the batteries and you’re actually home. Make your home safer with the Nest Protect. A dual smoke and carbon monoxide detector, you can get this in a wired or battery version. The detector will feed updates to your phone, letting you know if there are issues even if you’re not at home. Install once and be safe for years!
Prevent Slips in Your Shower
Falls in the home can be your family’s biggest concern. Make your shower safer with these simple bathtub adhesive strips. Easy to install, these stickers increase the friction in the shower but keep your tub clean and allow water to flow easily. You can even get them in a few different colors to match your tub or your personality! Spend just a few minutes to make your bathroom safer.
Add Some Extra Light
Make those walks around the house in the evening safer with these simple plug-in nightlights. With auto dusk to dawn function, they’ll come on when it senses it’s dark enough in the house to need them. You can get them in a variety of colors and styles to fit your decor and just plug them in where you need them. Energy-efficient and ultra slim, you’ll love them.
Give Your Mail and Keys a Home
An organized home makes your life easier – no matter your age! Make it easy to find your keys and have a safe space for your mail and other small items with this cute wall-mounted mail rack. It comes with multiple hooks for your keys, a convenient holder for your mail, and a little shelf for sunglasses or other small items we always seem to lose. Plus it just looks nice!
Make Eating Healthy Easy
Having healthy, nutritious meals is an important part of having your best retirement. Keep that produce you bought better for longer with these ingenious stacking bins for your fridge. Perfect for different fruits, veggies, and spices, you’ll be able to stack your food easier so you can see it (and remember to eat it) but keep it lasting longer. It’s a win-win!
