DIY Network

Aging in Place: Good Lighting for Ages 55+

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By John Morrell

According to the Centers for Disease Control, falls are the leading cause of injury deaths among older adults, which is why "elder-proofing" is an important issue as the population ages and more seniors seek to live out their golden years independently.

It also presents an opportunity for contractors and interior designers who may be called to help make homes "senior friendly." "I've definitely seen more inquires about my services," says Sydney Marshall, an interior designer whose firm, Access Solutions LLC (Union, Neb.), specializes in senior home design. "People want to stay in their homes as long as possible, but they often need help making them safe and useable as they age."

Proper lighting is one of the most crucial elements to a safe home, since many seniors are dealing with failing eyesight. Even attempts to save money can be a factor.

"Lots of seniors are on fixed incomes, which makes them concerned about electricity use. They're reluctant to turn on enough lights," says Jo Nelson, who heads up Servant's Heart Homemaker Services in Logansport, Ind.

Marshall and Nelson offer some tips to keep homes safe and well-lit:

• Lamps attached to timers can keep the home bright enough to see walkways and hazards,
  
• Switching incandescent bulbs to efficient compact fluorescents can alleviate fears about power usage.
  
• Keep an easy-to-use flashlight next to the bed in case of power outages.
  
• Put nightlights in bathrooms and hallways.
  
• Replace standard electrical switches with large, glowing rocker switches that can be easily found in the dark.
  
• Make sure stairways have working switches both at the top and the bottom.
  
• If there's a plan to remodel a portion of the house, consider adding a skylight to better illuminate dark areas.
  
• Two or three lamps or fixtures in a room with lower-wattage bulbs are better than a single light source, since just one is likely to create dark shadows as the person moves around the room.
  
• Having multiple sources of light also reduces the chance for glare, which is especially difficult for older eyes.
  
• Check outlets to make sure they're not overloaded with adapters.
  
• Examine extension cords and route them out of the way of walking areas.
  
• If space heaters are used in the home, keep them away from areas where they can be knocked over or where they might contact flammable materials, such as drapes.
  
• TV remote controls and phones can be complicated for anyone, but especially for those with hand tremors or sight problems. Many companies market remotes, phones and small appliances with large, easily read push buttons and bigger LED displays.
  
• Telephone amplifiers are easy to connect.
  
• Devices for the hearing impaired that turn on a strobe light when the phone rings or the doorbell sounds can be helpful.
  
• Install smoke detectors that give a visual as well as an audio alarm.
  
• Emergency-alert pendants have been around for years. They allow someone who has fallen and can't get up to press a remote control to summon help.
  
• A new system from security company ADT expands that concept by placing monitors around each room in the house to monitor the resident's well-being. "The system watches over the individual, and if there are variations in their routine — if they don't get out of bed at their usual time or if they're up more than normal at night — the center will alert a caretaker or call to see if everything is all right," says Nelson.

John Morrell is a freelance writer based in the Los Angeles area. He frequently writes about residential construction and related topics.