3 Simple Steps To Home Safety Modifications For Aging In Place!

3 Simple Steps To Home Safety Modifications For Aging In Place!

Caregiver Green Bay WI Home Safety

Performing home safety repairs and adding features that allow the home to be more accessible creates a better environment for people of every age and ability.

According to the AARP Public Policy Institute, 90 percent of Americans age 50 and older intend to stay in their own homes. There are many good things to be said for “aging in place”! For many Americans, staying in our own homes means staying where our roots are. We cherish our familiar surroundings. We know the services and businesses in our neighborhood. We rely on an informal support system of family, friends and neighbors.

But many of us may find that our homes haven’t kept up with our needs as we deal with the common physical changes of aging. For example, home hazards can lead to dangerous falls for people with mobility and sensory challenges. Falls are a serious problem for seniors! According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), thousands of older adults die from fall injuries every year and millions more are treated for nonfatal injuries. Falls are the top reason seniors go to the emergency room. And over half of these falls take place right in the person’s own home.

Fires are another concern. Older adults are at greater risk of being injured in a home fire. They may be physically less able to take quick action after a fire. Cognitive impairment or the side-effects of medication may affect their ability to make decisions. They may forget to turn off the stove, or fall asleep while smoking. Seniors are also at greater risk of criminal activity in the home. Unfortunately, many burglars and con artists target frail, vulnerable elders.

Whether you live in a house, an apartment, or a condo, this might be a good time to take stock of your home. What changes can make your home as safe and secure as possible? And if you are one of the growing number of family caregivers whose older loved one now lives with you, have you considered ways your home can adapt to your loved one’s needs?

Senior-friendly home safety modifications can provide greater peace of mind for everyone in the family. Some modifications, such as adding a roll-in shower or lowering kitchen cabinets, are fairly major remodeling projects. Other improvements are easier and can be done for a smaller cost.

Here are three steps to take as you evaluate your home safety:

Remove Hazards and Add Safety Accessories.

To help prevent accidents, perform a room-by-room safety inspection of the home. Make repairs and remove clutter throughout the home and outside. Inspect smoke alarms. Make safety improvements and additions, such as non-slip, non-glare flooring, low-pile carpeting and grab bars in the bathroom and night lights. Improve lighting in all rooms. Remove or secure area rugs. (The Consumer Product Safety Commission offers a free, online “Safety for Older Consumers Home Safety Checklist” that you can use as you conduct your inspection.)

Add Adapted Features for Accessibility and Independence.

Enhance accessibility and improve independence with adaptive features such as easy-grip knobs and pulls in kitchen, wheelchair or walker access, and touch light switches. If necessary, re-arrange the house for one-story living. Consider a security and personal alarm system.

Make Home Repairs for Comfort and Convenience.

Make sure roof, gutters, stairs and railings are in good repair. Inspect and upgrade plumbing, electrical, heat and air conditioning systems if necessary. Install energy efficient features such as weather stripping and insulation.

You can fix some things by yourself or with the help of handy friends, but doing it yourself is not always the best way to go. Poorly planned and built features can prove useless, or even dangerous. For example, a ramp that is too steep and lacks safety features is worse than no ramp at all. Grab bars that are not solidly anchored can cause rather than prevent falls. If you are hiring a handyman or contractor to do some of the work for you, be certain the person or company you select is reliable and trustworthy.

Important note: Older adults are often targeted by unscrupulous contractors and service providers. Be wary of door-to-door home safety repair sales. A common scam is for a salesperson to come to your door, claiming that his company is working on a job in your neighborhood and offering to do work on your house for a low rate. He might claim to have spotted dangerous conditions that should be taken care of “right away.” But when the work is completed (if it ever is completed), the services and materials usually turn out to be shoddy and not to code. Never agree to any home safety services until you have checked out the company.

If you would like a Free in home consultation with one of our team members please contact us here!

Copyright © AgeWise, 2014