Home Modifications Keep Seniors Safe & Improve Quality of Life

The floors are too slick, and the stairs are too many. Most homes in America are not designed to accommodate the needs of people age 65 and older. The home that many of today’s seniors bought at a young age was not built with an older person’s needs in mind. The bedrooms are upstairs and the door openings are too small for a wheelchair. Outside, the sidewalks are buckled and the manual garage door is nearly impossible to lift.

But this is home and statistics show that 75 percent or more of older Americans want to age in place instead of entering a care facility. So what can the elderly do to remain independent and safe in their homes that no longer meet their physical requirements?

Plenty can be done, says the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and elder care professionals. June is Home Safety Month and a good time to consider home modification as a beneficial solution to reduce the potential for injuries and make everyday tasks easier for older individuals. Modifying a home for improved convenience and safety can range from removing potential fall hazards to extensive renovations.

Whether to repair or upgrade are key considerations when planning home modifications, and the seniors themselves need to be involved as much as possible in the decision making. Depending on the desired improvements, work may be a do-it-yourself project or require the professional help of a contractor. If a senior has specific health requirements for the home, it may be advisable to consult with an occupational therapist or other healthcare professional.

“Often, our home care providers will find a safety or accessibility problem in a client’s home such as a loose railing or faucet out of reach, and we’ll talk with the client and family about these concerns,” Beth Sholom, Owner, Right at Home of Central New Jersey explained. “If home modifications are needed, we can help the senior adjust smoothly to the changes and upgrades in their surroundings. We also offer a free Home Safety Checklist.”

Sholom recommends that before moving ahead with home modification, it is best for the senior along with relatives or friends to go through each room noting any areas needing improvement. A factsheet on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website answers questions regarding home modifications, and home assessment checklists found on the Internet can include the following items:

All Rooms

• Flooring free of cracks, splits and up-turned edges
• Carpets secure with no loose or torn patches
• Bright lighting with handy, easy-control switches
• Properly grounded electrical outlets within easy reach
• Space to add video home monitoring

Kitchen

• Easy-to-use faucets, cabinet doorknobs and stove controls
• Grab bars where needed for support
• Comfortable counter height and depth

Bathroom

• Easy access into and out of the bathtub or shower
• Nonslip surfaces in the bathtub or shower
• Grab bars near the toilet and bathtub or shower
• Simple control of sink/shower/tub faucets’ water temperature
• Shower/bathtub bench or seat

Doors, Windows

• Door openings wide enough to accommodate a walker or wheelchair
• Sturdy, easy-to-turn door locks
• Windows well-sealed and easy to open and close
• Stairs and Inclines
• Stairs in good condition
• Steps wide enough for whole foot
• No loose carpeting or edges
• Secure handrails on both sides of stairway at proper height
• Ramps to replace stairs or steps inside and outside

In reviewing all the areas of a senior’s home that could benefit from renovations, make a list of potential problems and possible solutions. Pay special attention to stairs and uneven and slippery walkways. To fund significant home repairs and modifications, some assistance might be available through Title III of the Older Americans Act via a local Area Agency on Aging. Community energy and social services departments also may provide monies from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program or the Weatherization Assistance Program. If certain home modifications are ordered by a doctor, Medicare or Medicaid may help with costs. In addition, some towns and cities offer community development grant funds, or homeowners may qualify for a home equity mortgage to pay for home improvements.

For more practical resources on home modifications for older people and aging in place, contact the National Resource Center on Supportive Housing and Home Modifications (NRCSHHM) at http://www.homemods.org or 213-740-1364.

About Right at Home

Founded in 1995, Right at Home offers in-home companionship and personal care and assistance to seniors and disabled adults who want to continue to live independently. Local Right at Home offices are independently owned and operated and directly employ and supervise all caregiving staff, each of whom is thoroughly screened, trained, and bonded/insured prior to entering a client’s home. Right at Home’s global office is based in Omaha, Nebraska, with franchise offices located in 44 states nationwide and throughout the world. For more information on Right at Home, visit About Right at Home at http://www.rightathome.net/about-us or read the Right at Home caregiving blog at http://www.rightathome.net/blog. To sign up for Right at Home’s free adult caregiving e-newsletter, Caring Right at Home, visit http://caringnews.com.

About Right at Home of Central New Jersey

The Right at Home of CNJ office of Right at Home is a locally owned and operated franchise office of Right at Home, Inc., serving the communities of Middlesex County. For more information, contact Right at Home of Central New Jersey at http://www.middlesexnj.rightathomeofcnj.com, 732-967-0900 or by email at beths@rightathomeofcnj.com.