The living room should be a place to relax as well as entertain friends; therefore it will be essential that this room and living space is a safe environment. So take the time to ensure this a pleasurable, safe and comfortable room.

The furnishings ought to be secure; specifically chairs will not swivel, rotate or have wheels on the legs. Chairs that swivel, rotate or even have wheels can move when sitting down as well as standing up significantly increasing the danger of a fall. All pieces of furniture need to have arms, especially the chairs and roughly 17-20 inches off the floor; this will permit the physical motion of sitting down or standing up to be relatively trouble free decreasing the probability of a fall. If needed place risers under the chair and sofa legs or use really firm cushions to increase the elevation for sitting down or standing up. Make certain the furniture is sturdy and stable; you might think about placing the chair against the wall so therefore it doesn’t move when one goes to sit down. The best sitting chair features a comparatively straight back, a firm, shallow seat, as well as armrests. When at all possible steer clear of low, heavily upholstered couches and chairs, due to the fact it could be challenging to rise from them without assistance.

Consider arranging furniture so the backs of chairs and sofas can provide hand support/rests throughout walk areas. Make sure the walk areas are clear of clutter and also physical objects and there is sufficient room to move freely around furniture. Do not have coffee tables in front of couches and chairs. It is important to have all walkways clear which also includes absolutely no throw rugs. You want to be able to safely walk in the living room without stumbling or tripping by having sufficient room to move freely around furniture.

Tables should be of acceptable height to hold things. Light switches need to be accessible as well as comfortably reachable. Consider touch sensitive table lamps, or even sound activated lighting in order to enable lights to be turned on prior to entering the room. Invest in touchable lamps or those that react to sound. Make certain there is sufficient lighting for reading, checking lamps for correct wattage; the advised wattage is only 60 watts. Older adults require two to three times the lighting as young people. When achievable, arrange furniture so outlets are accessible for lamps and appliances without the need for extension cords. When it is necessary to have to use extension cords it is extremely important to make certain they are secured with tape and out of the way so you don’t trip on them. Do not place electrical cords underneath rugs or in walkways.

When possible install adjustable window blinds or shades to manage brightness in the room. Sunlight at different times of the day can result in brightness making it difficult to see. This increases the probability of a fall.

Walking or wheeling on carpeting is easier if the carpet pile is very short. It is even less difficult on wood, linoleum or ceramic flooring; however, bare floors and ceramic tiles can be slippery when wet, so use caution as this increases the probability of a fall. You may want to consider changing the floor covering or surface.

Your budget and taste in furniture will help you decide what changes best fit your lifestyle.