Dad was 86 and Mom was 84.
No matter how well designed the house was, my mother tripped where the dining room carpet met the kitchen tile floor and her fall shattered one of her legs, ultimately leading to her death last year.
Falling is the big fear. Great attention should be paid to all floor surfaces, from the walk-in or wheel-in shower to carpet/smooth floor transitions.
Get grab bars that a soapy hand can grip.
Independant seniors should still be monitored by a service or family members on a daily basis, around lunch time when the dangerous showering period has passed.
I wish all the best of luck to all in dealing with their own particular situations.
"Independant seniors should still be monitored by a service or family members on a daily basis, around lunch time when the dangerous showering period has passed."
My father (85) lives in a gorgeous independent living place where he has his own apartment (one of the Erickson communities), and they have a good system. At night, a security person goes around and flips up a lever against each apartment door. Anytime the door is opened, that lever will fall again. The security people do the rounds about noon the next day; if any levers are still in place from the night before, they check.