Aging in Place:
Tips for home safety
for County seniors
“Senior Resource” reports that an estimated 70 percent of people over the age of 65 spend their remaining years in the home where they celebrated their 65th birthday. Most Americans desire to stay in their homes — 89 percent of people 50 and older wish to remain in their own homes indefinitely (AARP). However, that may become increasingly difficult as physical difficulties do tend to accumulate with advancing age.
Earlier this year, Visiting Nurses of Aroostook offered a number of resources and tools at its corporate website, www.easternmainehomecare.org to help the aging population.
As a loved one ages, family members may notice physical difficulties such as balance problems, hearing impairment, limited reach, trouble bending and more. None of these are, by any means, life threatening and are sometimes issues with growing older. However, they can inhibit a safe, happy home life.
A concept called “aging in place” allows seniors to live in their own homes, using products, services, and conveniences which allow them to remain home in a safe manner. Aging in place is more than simply “staying at home”. For the senior, it translates into independence, confidence and emotional familiarity. For the family caregiver, it means modifications and safety education may be needed.
Important features for an “aging in place” ready home include: a master bedroom and bath on the first floor; low or no-threshold entrance to the home with an overhang; lever-style door handles; no change in levels on the main floor; bright lighting in all areas, especially places like stairways; low-maintenance exterior; non-slip flooring at the main entryway; an open floor plan, especially in the kitchen/dining area; and handrails at all steps.
If a home does not accommodate these recommendations, hiring a trained contractor for modifications is a great alternative. According to Cecile Voisine, R.N., of Visiting Nurses of Aroostook, “As seniors age, their homes can become increasingly difficult to maintain and can even become unsafe. A growing trend is to utilize the skills of a contractor experienced in aging modifications. Examples include housing modifications, assistive technologies, and green strategies.”
The National Home Builders Association (NAHB) reports that 75 percent of re-modelers have seen an increase in requests for aging in place work, and 60 percent of re-modelers already perform aging in place work. Contractors are able to modify the home to accommodate impairments such as balance and coordination, hearing impairment, limited reach, limited vision, poor strength, poor flexibility, trouble walking and climbing stairs.
