Suggestions by Room

In this section you'll find some ideas for a range of modifications and solutions for each area of your home - many of which you can implement yourself.

While each home and every individual is unique, listed below are some of the typical solutions employed in each area.

Adapting your Parents Home for Safety and Security  

Slips and falls are of course one of the main concerns.  The goal is to minimize the risk.  Making the everyday tasks more convenient often has the added benefit of lowering the risk of slips and falls. Look for ways to accomplish both.  Also consider on-going maintenance issues. 

Remember these projects will take time and energy, and some financial resources. Best advice is to tour the house with your loved one and you will see what modifications you may want to tackle, and ones for which you'd like the assistance of AgeRight Retrofit.

At first it may be a bit overwhelming, but be patient, and know help is here for you when you need it. Just give us a call and we will do a household assessment and determine the best solutions so your loved one can continue to enjoy the comfort of their home for many years to come.

BATHROOM

Things you may want to consider

1.   Replace all mats with no skid type.

2.   Add a seat to the tub or shower, and an elevated toilet seat.

3.   Determine whether you’re loved one needs or may require assistance with bathing.  

4.   Add grab bars - if you do decide to do this yourself make sure that they are anchored directly into studs. If you are not familiar with how to do this correctly it could cause more harm than good. We do not recommend the use of "suction cup" type grab bars.   

5.   Try to impress upon your loved one that a towel rack is not safe or strong enough to hold their body weight. If they use a towel rack as a grab bar, they will be at high risk for accidents and injuries.

6.   Check the high temperature of the hot water source.  Make sure it is set low enough that it will not scald. 

Things you may want AgeRight to handle

Retrofitting your bathroom with appropriate equipment and features may be the most impactive investment you can make.  If your loved one has any difficulty with stairs, most likely they will have difficulty stepping in and out of a tub. Maybe they have already given up - or reduced the frequency of bathing.  And it's no wonder - slipping while getting in and out of standard tubs is the source of a high percentage of the injuries in our homes.  We often hear of those who got in and then did not have the strength to get out.  As you can imagine that can be a scary and dangerous situation.  We provide a wide array of solutions. 

KITCHEN 

Things you may want to consider doing yourself. 

1.   New appliances purchases - look for ones that turn off automatically. Irons, electric heaters, fans, coffee makers.  

2.   Check stove and appliances for grease build up (exhaust, oven burners). 

3.   Check refrigerator, freezer, and food pantry for spoiled rancid food.   Discard or donate to a local food shelve. CLEARLY MARK the package with expiration date.  

4.   Check pots and pans. Be sure that they are not too heavy or too lightweight, and that the handles are securely fastened and do not retain heat. 

Things you may want AgeRight to handle.

1.   Consolidate the contents in the cabinets to make commonly used items more accessible.

2.   Install Pull Out Shelves so access to contents is easier.

3.   Adjust counter top, work surfaces and table tops to lower level to assist those using a walker or wheelchair.

4.   Retrofit storage areas, for better accessibility. Install inside door racks, slide out drawers, and revolving shelves. Customize to love ones specific needs.

COMMON AREAS 

Things you may want to consider doing

1.   Motion sensor Night Lights are an easy way to improve lighting for nighttime or low light conditions. Thankfully there are now simple LED night-lights (both plug in and battery operated) that are extremely efficient, long lasting, and inexpensive. Install throughout the house, particularly in the bathroom, hallways, and near staircases. Here are a couple that are highly rated:                                                             

2.   Painting door frames and doors a different color than the walls. Use contrasting colors for furniture, drapes, and floor coverings. Try this concept throughout the house, with tablecloths, placemats, dishes, and other items. Sometimes aging eyes have difficulty differentiating between similar colors. SEEING THINGS CLEARLY IS CRITICAL for SAFETY.

3.   Upgrade wattage on bulbs and make sure lamp fixtures can handle the higher wattage. Get rid of three way bulbs. In effort to save money, many of your parents keep the bulb on the lowest wattage. Because of DIM LIGHTING, parents may FALL and suffer unnecessary injuries.

4.   REMOVE CLUTTER where ever you can. The more room to move around freely with less RISK OF FALLS.

5.   Use heavy, firm furniture. Lightweight chairs can tip backward when parents tries to sit down or stand.

6.   Use automatic timers to turn on the main lights.  

7.   Phones should be accessible throughout the home so that emergency calls can easily be made. A phone should be placed conveniently by the bed for emergency use. Remember to install all telephone cords in a safe manner. Look for phone with volume control and a speaker phone option. (Aides with hearing loss, and the burden of holding a phone).  

Things you may want AgeRight to handle 

1.   REPLACE shag carpet with low pile. REMOVE area and throw rugs to REDUCE TRIPS that could lead to FALL.

2.   Eliminate sharp edges on tabletops and counters by cover with RUBBER CORNER GUARDS. 

3.   Make sure doors and draws are equipped with push bars or lever style handles. 

4.   Reinforce banisters and railings, and add additional handrails in various locations and stairways throughout the home. 

5.   Remodel to living on one Level:  safety may require that the bathroom, kitchen and bedroom all be on one level to avoid potential injury of a fall on the stairs. Safeguard all stairways with doors that can easily be closed.

6.   Smoke Detectors: Install smoke detectors throughout the home especially in the kitchen. Consider Carbon -monoxide detectors, as well.

7.   Burglar Alarms: A burglar alarm system can add safety; many include a medical alert feature, which can be activated with a remote option. The touch of a button can bring police, EMS workers to the side of the needy senior. 

8.   Good ventilation and clean air are important especially for those who are spending the majority of their time in there home.  Consider an air purifier with good circulating fan in bedroom and main areas. 

9.   Upgrade the sidewalks to a no-step entrance into home. Done properly this upgrade not only makes access into the home easier and safer for aging adults and their friends, you can add "curb-appeal" and value to the home rather than detracting from it. 

10.       Replace gutters with maintenance free type.

11.       Install motion detection lights by outside entrances.

BEDROOM 

Things you may want to consider

1.   Check the height of your parent’s bed. Your parent’s feet should touch the ground while sitting on the bed and they should be able to sit easily without falling backward. 

2.   Be sure that the room has sufficient lighting and that your parent can reach the light from the bed. A light at the entrance to the bedroom will help to ensure that they see their way clearly into a room.

Things you may want AgeRight to handle

1.   Adjust height of closet shelves, and clothes hanger bars.