If you’re thinking about moving into a home, building one you can retire in, or wondering how you can make it easier to live in your elderly parent’s home, there are a few things to look for when living as a senior or a person. . with a disability easier. Here is a list of 21 proven helpful ideas and tips.
1. Rocker style light switches and many ways to turn lights on/off from different locations, commonly known as 2-way or 3-way. Lots of natural lighting, overhead lights and electrical outlets. Ideally, electrical outlets should be higher than code and many more in number, this makes placement of lights easier and wires are less likely to get in the way. In large spaces, consider floor outlets that will eliminate cords and allow for furniture placement options. This is also very useful if you have a small bedroom and someone needs a hospital bed in the living room or dining room.
2. All Doors: Entry/exit and room entrances must be at least 36″ for wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, etc. Must have an 18″ clear wall clearance on the side of the door. door latch (in and out of the room) so if you are in a wheelchair you can get close enough to the handle to open/close the door easily. Be careful not to block the space with furniture. Look in the pocket doors – gain footage and ease.
3. Plenty of phone jacks so phones can be throughout the house, as you get older it takes longer to get to the phone. This is also safer in case of emergency situations.
4. Handrails for going up and down stairs on both sides, bathroom handrails for balance when getting on and off the toilet and getting in and out of showers or bathtubs.
5. Think of a security system that includes an emergency button that has a wrist or neck chain that you can wear or keep in your pocket. These are very affordable and can even be used outside many feet away from the house.
6. Hang a tennis ball on a string from the garage ceiling so it hits the windshield in the correct parking spot. Make life easier. Make sure if you have electric garage door openers, if the power goes out, a “short” and not physically strong person can open the door to get the car out. Think of an on-demand generator…it takes care of so many obstacles and hazards.
7. Have drawers for all your cabinets under the kitchen, it makes finding things easier, less lifting, and actually uses space more efficiently.
8. Washer/dryer on the floor near the bedroom, as this is where most of the laundry is generated.
9. Make sure the house is one story or, if it’s two stories, has a wider stairwell so you can install a stair-climbing chair. They now have affordable home elevators that work like a bank air tube and thus work even when there is no electricity on the ground floor.
10. Windows must be able to be cleaned from inside the house, on both sides.
11. Spend a lot of time looking at the bathroom and how you can make it usable if you’ve broken your leg, had severe arthritis, or were weak. Tub/shower/faucets/sprinklers/slide/equipment room and mobility equipment.
12. Doorknobs and faucet knobs must be of the lever type.
13. Maintenance free as much as you can, inside and outside the house.
14. Is the house located near important resources such as supermarkets, doctors, pharmacies,
friends and church/clubs/activities? Consider this if you can’t drive at night or very far, or if you can’t drive at all. How far from fire/rescue/police services as well.
15. Open plan vs. a house with lots of tiny rooms is better for flexibility as you age. Consider how far you have to walk around the house just to do activities of daily living.
16. Think of a door for dogs or cats, if applicable, and the animal will be safe. Could go into a fenced area, they can be locked at night and make life so much easier.
17. Reconsider the floor. Do you have to wash frequently? Is it slippery? Can a wheelchair go up easily? Is it easy to care for and maintain?
18. Stairs, whether they are inside or outside the house, can quickly become big obstacles, consider the location, width and height, how often they need to be used, the number, etc. so that your future is to access areas of your home, enter/exit your home and be safe.
19. Higher toilets are available and make it easier to get on/off. There are now shower/tub combos that you walk into and they also continue to drop in price.
20. Having paved roads and sidewalks is very useful for safety, the use of devices is necessary and in a snowy climate, they melt faster. Also consider fire escape plans, we just don’t move as fast or as easily as we get older or when limited.
21. If you can look at a house through aged eyes or have someone with a disability or older adult look at things for you, you can have a much happier, safer, and easier life at home.
Vocational Rehabilitation, which is located in every state and is usually located in the Department of Labor or Human Services, has at least one person fully trained in accessibility. (They are responsible for the Americans with Disabilities Act) and could answer questions about your home in terms of what can be done to make things easier. Some disability organizations may also have a person trained in accommodations/adaptations, or contact The Practical Expert.com for Tonia, who is well trained in this area and lives it too.
If you belong to a club, consider checking it out for tips on how to make it easier to access. This helps Seniors, people with disabilities, and even people with a temporary injury (such as someone with a broken leg) to attend things like school graduations, join civic organizations, volunteer at venues, and attend many types of activities. . Many accommodations/accommodations are free or low cost that can have a big impact on the people who use the place. Example, # of handicap spots in a school and how far to walk to the gym, etc.
Keeping an eye on how life can be made more accessible and safe for older adults, aging parents, and people with injuries or disabilities means it’s easier and safer for everyone, not just for today but for the future.