Home modifications are changes make to a home’s original design to accommodate a client’s special needs such as mobility and limited range of motion issues. Home modifications are essential for a senior who lives alone and must be self-sufficient between scheduled visits by an in-home elderly care provider. Home modifications allow the elderly unlimited access to their homes by making small, but effective changes in its layout and design. The American Association For Retired Persons (AARP) conducted a recent survey and found that eighty three percent of elderly Americans want to stay in their personal homes for the rest of their lives. However, due to the fact that many of their homes are older homes, built twenty or more years ago, the design of the home isn’t user friendly for someone who is advanced in age and limited in their mobility.
Major home modifications and redesigns can be expensive. Most elderly people cannot afford such an undertaking. Thankfully, there are several small, yet effective ways that families and caregivers can make their elderly loved one’s home more accessible to them. Here’s a list of some of these simple techniques.
Appliances
- Are appliances installed in a location that the senior can easily reach them?
- Are the control knobs clearly marked and in good working order?
- Is the water temperature set at a comfortable level?
- Is this control accessible in case a change is needed?
- Are heating and cooling units easily accessible and in good working order?
- Can the senior reach the freezer handle on the refrigerator, if needed?
- Are the appliances safely anchored to the floor to prevent overturning?
Lighting
- Is each room brightly lit?
- Are automatic nightlights installed in dark hallways?
- Are light switches easy to reach?
- Are electrical outlets plentiful and easy to reach?
- Are the outlets properly grounded to prevent electric shock?
- Are there any extension cords running from the outlets which may pose a fall hazard for the senior?
Other
- If the home is equipped with an alarm system, is the control panel installed at a level that the senior can access with ease?
- Are smoke detectors installed and functioning in every room of the house?
- Is there a telephone in the rooms that the elder would spend the most time in?
- Are televisions properly anchored to prevent them from falling onto the senior?
- Are the televisions equipped with remote controls that the client knows how to operate?
Still unsure about how safe a home is for a senior loved one? Contact us for advice on how we can help your loved one remain safe in their own home. We cover Sarasota, Longboat Key, Venice, Bradenton and surrounding areas.
Tags: bradenton, longboat key, safety, sarasota, seniors, venice
