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 Let's face it, we are all getting older. And so are our parents, if we are fortunate enough to still have them. Making a home safer, easier and more convenient for an aging loved one (or hey, even for yourself sooner than you think! ) can be fairly inexpensive to do. And the benefits can be significant, such as reducing the risks of falls, improving ease of access, etc.
Statistics show that between 80 to 90% of people
aged 45 and
over expect to stay and grow old in their own homes. If you are one of
the people planning to stay in your home indefinitely, then you should
start thinking about how to make your home (or your parent's home) more
compatible with the special needs of older people. Listed below are the key
design concepts that you will want to consider. And as you will read,
they can be done without making your house look like and “old folk’s home.”
"Equitable Use"
The design concept of "equitable use" is
about making functional changes to your home that are appealing to all users, irrespective of
their age. An example of this is replacing your door knobs with door levers
instead.
Levers are much easier to use than gripping and twisting a knob. And at the same time,
levers can also look very
elegant. You can buy simple door levers for less than $15, or you can purchase
more expensive ones in nickel, chrome or bronze finish.
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 "Stability
Enhancements"
Studies show that every year about one-third of
all people 65 and older
will slip and fall in their homes. And two-thirds of these will fall again in six months.
Adding grab bars and handrails can significantly reduce the chance of slips and
falls in the areas which are most at risk: bathrooms and elevation transitions
(e.g., steps). Grab bars and handrails are relatively inexpensive to add,
and can be made to blend in very elegantly. However, be sure that they
are installed sturdily into the walls, so that they don't provide just a false
sense of security.
"Easy
Access"
This design concept is about providing enough space for access, regardless of the mobility of the user. For example, when you are building or remodeling your kitchen, make sure the space around the island is
wide enough for a wheelchair. No one will notice that the extra space was built for this purpose.
What they will notice is a
nice open kitchen.
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 "Perception Enhancements"
As we get older, our visual capabilities decline. We need more light to
see, and our depth perception decreases. To compensate for this, it is a
good idea to add night lights near areas of transition in your house, for
example, near stairs and doorways. The good news is that now you can get LED type night lights incandescent style night lights had used. And you can get the type of
night light that only turn on when it is dark in the room.
Further, as we age we begin to have more difficulty in
perceiving edges, such as the difference between the wall and the floor, and the floor and say
a kitchen island.
This can be remedied by using contrasting colors. You don't need to
re-paint all the walls, but rather you can just paint the trim where the wall meets the floor.
And for counters in the kitchen, painting the edges of the counters with a
contrasting color will make them easier to find when you need them for support,
and easier to see for avoiding bumping into them.
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SUMMARY
So, whether you are an aging baby boomer or concerned about an aging parent,
it's better to start incorporating these changes to your home BEFORE you find
out the hard way that you need them. Your home will look as elegant as you want it,
and will serve you or your aging parents much better.
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