10 Aging in Place Health and Safety Tips

Like nearly 43.4[1] million other Americans. We traveled home for Thanksgiving. And like most adult children who don’t see mom and dad all the time it’s always a shock to see that they are getting older. We find that around the holidays is when most adult children realize that mom and dad could use some help around the house, whether it’s just regular maintenance that they need a hand with or making some small changes so the house continues to be a safe place for them.

 Some items you should check out and see if they need some work are:

1. Railings: Check and see how sturdy they feel. Do handrails at stairs wobble when you grab them? Do they have a round handrail that can be easily gripped?
2. Lighting: as we get older we need more light to see well and keep our eye from getting tired. So plenty of natural and lamp light is important. Special lighting for task areas is essential. For instance: under cabinet lights in the kitchen can help make meal prep easier.
3. Bathroom Safety: is it time to add some extra handrails or grab bars. A professional can install permanent ones right in the bathroom, or there are some very good temporary options. Many companies like Kohler make grab bars that match the other bath accessories and blend well with the style of the bathroom.
4. Laundry Facilities: would it be easier on mom and dad to move them to the same level as the living space
5. Stairs: are they sturdy? Do they need to be redone? We recommend having a sturdy round handrail for easy grasping.
6. Walkways: Make sure that the path into the house smooth, level, and without pot holes.
7. Gutters: Make sure that they are clean. Gutters that are full of leaves and debris can back up and cause ice damming, rot, and the roof to leak.
8. Smoke and CO2 detectors – it’s a good time to test and change the batteries.
   According to the CDC “Each year, more than 400 Americans die from unintentional CO poisoning, more than 20,000 visit the emergency room and more than 4,000 are hospitalized due to CO poisoning. Fatality is highest among Americans 65 and older.”[2]
9. Furnace: Check the furnace, change the filter and have the heating system, water heater and any other gas, oil, or coal burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician every year.
10. Windows: Make sure windows are shut and latched.

These 10 Aging in Place health and safety tips will get you started in helping your loved ones safe. And even though the initial thought for this post came in relation to dealing with aging parents they are good tips for everyone to consider.

For more suggestions and ideas about Aging in Place and Universal Design please give Terry Quinn a call at 781-826-2577.  Terry is a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) thru the National Association of Home Builders. The CAPS designation program teaches the technical, business management, and customer service skills essential to competing in the fastest growing segment of the residential remodeling industry: home modifications for the aging-in-place.

Our family has been working with families like yours for over 50 years. And it is important to use that everyone works together to create the best possible remodeling experience. We never want to see someone get hurt in your home. If you have questions about your home improvement project or would like more safety tips please Contact Almar: https://www.almarbuilding.com (781-826-2577) and watch our videos: http://www.youtube.com/almarbuilding

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Almar Building & Remodeling Co (Hanover Ma). As a third generation family owned and operated company for over 50 years Almar Building has all the benefits of a small company with the options of a larger company including financing. From Additions, Kitchens, Bathroom, Basement Renovations, Siding, Windows, to Doors Almar services the entire South Shore of Massachusetts including: Hanover, Hingham, Pembroke, Norwell, Scituate, Cohasset, Duxbury, Hanson, Abington, Rockland, Holbrook, Braintree, Weymouth, Milton, and many more towns. 10 Aging in Place Health and Safety Tips