Easy Home Renovation Projects for Seniors

With warm weather ahead and winter in the distant future, seniors are looking for easy ways to improve their homes. Feeling comfortable inside the house is the easiest way to improve happiness and overall wellbeing. Plus, investing in a project is a great way to stay physically and mentally active. 

But home renovations and improvements can be difficult for seniors. This demographic overwhelmingly lives on a fixed-income budget, which can make large purchases and investments difficult to complete. Home remodels and renovations can cost thousands of dollars, which can be very inaccessible to seniors. If you’re looking for a safe, easy, and inexpensive way to freshen up your home, any of the below projects will be a good choice.

Before embarking on a home renovation project, you’ll want to ensure your safety. A medical alert system is a good way to safeguard yourself against emergencies. Home improvement projects don’t have to be dangerous, but they can expose seniors to some additional risks. Consider any of our medical alert system devices before starting on a project, no matter how small the task is.

Paint is among the easiest and cheapest home improvement options out there. For just a few dollars and a couple hours of your time, you can completely refresh a room in your house. Plus, you don’t need to be a professional to paint your walls. If you decide on this home improvement project, ask your family or friends to come over and help out. This can be a great opportunity to socialize. Also, remember to keep the room well ventilated, and keep your medical alert system on-hand in case of an accident. Depending on the size of the room you want to paint, expect to pay between $100 and $200. 

Hydration is extremely important to seniors, but not everyone has access to clean, clear, good-tasting tap water. If you find yourself spending money on plastic bottled water, consider installing a filter on your sink. This is an easy project that will pay dividends down the road; for around $250, you can have unlimited good-tasting water while saving money on bottled alternatives. 

This might sound strange, but checking electrical outlets is one of the more important projects you can take on. Check your outlet covers and power strips to ensure wires are secured. This can decrease your risk of falling or experiencing an accident. While a medical alert system can help address accidents when they happen, you don’t want a loose wire to be the cause of your fall. Check for overloaded circuits and power cords, which can cause additional danger, and replace all frayed cords or light switches that feel hot to the touch. 

If you don’t have the time or patience to paint a whole room, consider customizing the light switch plates in certain parts of the house. You can easily source beige or white switch plates at local craft and hardware stores. Then, paint to your heart’s desire. With some time, a screwdriver, and a little bit of elbow grease, you can switch plates quickly for an instant pop of color. If you don’t feel comfortable switching out the plates, even with a medical alert system for added safety, invite a friend or family member over to help.