As we grow older the utility of important home features and designs starts requiring modifications and/or adaptations. The need for accessibility becomes real.
The fancy fixtures and fittings, the exquisite chandeliers, the rose wood staircases etc etc, starts to become more of a liability rather than objects of luxury and design.
On one hand, growing old is probably the best phase of life however it has its limitations. The mental and physical faculties tend to get weaker as we age.
Though we all know age is just a number, yet there are certain realities of life which cannot be overlooked. I guess that’s the truth about getting old, at least as of date.
Recently we got an internal chair lift installed in our home. This was installed not to make a style statement or to boast about, it was purely out of need.
For my 83 years old father, movement inside the duplex house had been restricted only to the lower level. The effort to climb a staircase to the upper floors had become a challenge. As a result the upkeep and maintenance of the upper floors started to get affected.
The solution came in the form of a chair lift for staircase. This home adaptation has not only helped him with his movement but has given him a renewed sense of confidence and dignity.
In my opinion, if one has the means then it is worth investing in assistive / adaptive technology.
Pankaj Mehrotra
