| Aging in Place: Getting Around the House |
| Taking some time now to make some changes can ensure many years of safe, comfortable living. |
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By John Morrell
Most accidents that happen to seniors happen in their own homes. Fortunately, you can take steps — for yourself or a loved one — to minimize the possibility of accidental injury. Here are some tips for making a home safer for everyone in it, no matter what their age:
- The first rule of a safe senior home is getting rid of clutter. Books, newspapers, shoes, oxygen tanks, anything sitting in a walkway is a potential hazard and should be cleared out.
- Furniture arrangements need to allow plenty of room for individuals to walk comfortably without squeezing between tables, chairs and couches.
- That attractive throw rug in the entryway? Throw it out, or at least find another home for it. "Throw rugs are trip hazards," said Sydney Marshall of Access Solutions, LLC in Union, Nebraska. "The no-skid backing tends to wear off over time and they bunch up, which makes them easy to trip over."
- Worn and torn carpeting should be fixed or replaced to maintain an even walking surface.
- Take care that metal or wood strips separating carpet and hard floor surfaces are secure and as flat as possible.
- Carpeting in bathrooms should be removed and replaced with unglazed tile or textured no-wax vinyl, which is easier to keep clean.
- If new carpeting is being chosen throughout the house, look for low-pile or Berber styles that help maintain an even surface.
- In some older homes, doorways may need to be widened and cabinets moved to accommodate individuals in a wheelchair or walker. "If you're a healthy senior citizen and you're looking forward to many more years in your home, you have to accept that in some of those future years you or your loved one may be disabled," said Los Angeles general contractor Steve Smith. "It's better to plan now during a remodeling project rather than later when it has to be done." Making such modifications at the time of a remodeling project is cheaper than going back to make them later, too.
- Many seniors have accumulated valuable and/or sentimental sets of figurines, china or other collectibles that, while beautiful, can become a hazard. If they're sitting too close to a walkway or near a dark corner, someone could knock them over. Try mounting them on a safe wall shelf away from traffic areas.
- Stairway handles should be firmly anchored to the wall, and the stairs should be checked to make sure each is the same height. A step that is an inch too high or short can become a fatal hazard. Even a step or two that lead down from a doorway into another room should have a rail that can be held for stability.
- Consider adding stairway rails on both sides of the wall for greater stability.
- Grip bars are commonly used in bathrooms, but there are styles available to go with most home decors, allowing them to be used in hallways, living rooms and bedrooms if the senior needs assistance moving in the common areas.
- Beds that are low to the ground can be raised to a more comfortable height with bed risers that attach to each of the bed's corners.
- Nightstands and tables with sharp corners can be hazard to an individual with some difficulty walking. Plastic adhesive shields more commonly used in homes with toddlers are also great for a senior's home to protect them from sharp edges.
- Cover outdoor patios, decks and entries with a non-slip top coat, and outdoor stairs should have adhesive strips to keep them safe in all-weather conditions.
- Outdoor lights activated by motion sensors can help the homeowner feel secure and provide adequate lighting after dark.
- If the stairs leading up to the house's entry are steep, a ramp that starts from the driveway and leads up a gentle elevation may be necessary to provide the homeowner with easy access.
Taking some time now to make these changes can ensure many years of safe, comfortable living. John Morrell is a freelance writer based in California. He frequently writes about residential construction and design topics.
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