Home Modifications Designed For Older Adults

Home modification refers to the adapting, converting, or changing your home environment to accommodate your lifestyle.  Each person experiences the aging process differently.  As we get older, our physical abilities decline.  All our senses-vision, hearing, sensations and balance are less acute.  Nevertheless, we want to stay in our home or community as we getting older.  The same home or environment we are used to may need to be modified to make our activities of daily living easier, reduce accidents and support our independent living.  Here are some simple home modifications that can make living more comfortable, easier, and safer.

Electrical:

• If your home is more than 10 years old, you should consider having the wiring inspected.  Be sure to consult with your local building inspector before making any repairs.

• Have a qualified electrician install ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), a special type of outlets that prevent shocks.  Install GFCI in the bathrooms, kitchen, laundry area, garage, basement, outdoor outlets, and around pools, sauna, and hot tub.  Test the outlets monthly.

• Install outside motion detector lights.  Most thieves are looking for home with “easy mark”, by taking this action, you can discourage the intruder.  It is almost impossible for thieves to enter without being seen.

• Install carbon monoxide detector near bedrooms in your home.  Have your furnace inspected every fall.

• Prevent scalds by setting your water heater to 120 degrees or lower.  Install anti scald devices for bathtubs or showers.

• Improve wiring to eliminate the need for dangerous extension cords.  Be sure outdoors and indoors stairs and hallways are well lighted.

• Install a garage door opener with lights.  Adjust electrical garage doors so they reverse easily when hit something.

General Home Improvement:

• Install dead-bolt locks on all outside doors.  Make sure you can unlock all doors from the inside without a key to allow a quick escape in case of fire.

• Have peepholes installed on all outside doors.

• Have locks installed on all windows.

• Have lever-styled door handles installed for easy opening (if you suffer from arthritis, you might appreciate this simple change).

• Install grab bars in bathrooms, in the shower, next to the commode.  Use only non skid mats on the floor.

• Install hand rails on both sides of all staircases and have light switches at both ends.

• Repair broken or uneven concrete on walkways and steps. 

• Have bushes near doors trimmed to reduce hiding places for burglars.

• If your home was built before 1978, it may have lead paint or vanish.  Have lead paint remove by a professional.  Children who are exposed to lead can have life long problems with growth, learning, and behavior.  An adult who is exposed to lead can have problem with blood pressure and trouble becoming pregnant.

Those interventions should improve your quality of life and make living more comfortable.