Hi! Today, I’ll be sharing more about the realities of living in a multi-generational home. I currently live with my parents, brother, partner, my elderly grandmother, and 2 caregivers. My grandmother suffers from dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB). For her safety and convenience of care, we’ve converted the entertainment room next to our level-1 kitchen into her bedroom. Our two caregivers live with her as she requires round-the-clock care. If you’re living with elderly parents or grandparents, read on to find out what changes you might need to make to your home. 
This is the true condition of the room, which I was only able to photograph while my grandma was out for her daily 20-minute time in the living room (on her wheelchair). She is currently bedridden and requires round-the-clock care as she needs to be tube-fed. Our caregivers sleep in the same room so they can assist her whenever needed. If you’re wondering why there are so many pillows, it’s because she often fidgets in bed due to her condition. The pillows help protect her from injuring herself. Since the room is quite small, we use a double-decker bed so that each helper has her own private space. The built-in carpentry is currently used to store the helpers’ clothes. 
Because she is bedridden, this has been extremely useful in preventing bedsores. The alternating pressure helps relieve her body by improving circulation. This purchase has been 100% worth it. We’ve had it for three years now. Also, since she has to be tube-fed, the bed’s adjustable buttons (like a recliner) are very helpful for getting her into the right position. 
We haven’t renovated our kitchen in about 10 years. Fortunately, the carpentry has held up well. With regular maintenance, it’s still in good condition. Note: Dedicate a space near the hot water dispenser, especially if your elderly parent or grandparent needs to take medicine through a tube. Preparing medication often involves mixing and heating with hot water, so having everything nearby makes the process much more efficient. 
Another view of the kitchen before entering our dining area. The amount of supplies needed… is a lot. So it’s best to allocate a space nearby (or within the room) for convenience. We also opted for open shelves here because we use these supplies multiple times a day. It’s really inconvenient to keep opening cabinet doors when your hands are full. The only downside is that it takes a bit more effort to keep the area clean. Tip: To protect my grandma’s health, we always wear masks and gloves when entering the room, and sanitise our hands beforehand since we’re out and about daily. We don’t want to risk transmitting any viruses to her. 
Here’s our bathroom, which is connected in two ways: 1. to the kitchen 2. to the room This setup has been very helpful since my grandma is bedridden. If your toilet is located far away, bringing them there can be a hassle and it also increases the risk of injury. Down to the details of what we’ve modified: 1. Shower curtain We initially had a glass door to keep the shower area separate, but we replaced it with a shower curtain. The key reason is that there are now two people in the shower area: my grandma and the caregiver assisting her. The curtain improves ventilation and provides more space to move around safely. 2. Handle grip bars These are extremely useful for helping her hold herself up. Since the bathroom is a wet area and tends to get slippery, these reinforcements are essential for safety. 3. Towel hangers above the toilet bowl We installed the handle bars on one side, so the towel hangers are on the opposite side. If both were placed together, they could block access to the bars, which might be dangerous in a situation where someone needs to grab the handle quickly but accidentally grabs a towel instead.
12 November
