We know that people are
reluctant to face their own aging limitations.
We also know that very often seniors are not willing to spend money to
improve their own comfort in their homes. Taken together it’s quite a challenge to get an
aging senior to make needed changes for safety and convenience. Many
who plan on aging in place are simply not interested in remodeling their homes no
matter how much more comfortable they’d be. They would rather live with a barrier, or put
together some temporary “fix”, than pay to solve the problem. I’ve
lost count as to how many bathrooms I’ve walked into where a standard folding
chair is balanced half in and half out of the bathtub, its purpose to aid
someone no longer able to step into the tub to take a shower. Needless to say, a precariously balanced metal
folding chair is not an appropriate (or safe) solution. So if we’re to convince these
seniors to make some changes for their own good, we need to start small, with modifications
that can be accomplished quickly, without major disruption, and relatively
inexpensively. Let’s start with the bathroom
since it’s the place in the home where most falls occur. 1. Add a seat to the
shower or tub 2. Replace a
stationary shower head with a hand held one 3. Create non-slip
tiles throughout bathroom and shower/tub by applying non-skid coatings readily available
in tile stores 4. Install higher watt
bulbs in fixtures to improve vision 5. Add grab bars to
shower, tub, and toilet areas; colored grab bars are available if needed to
increase visibility 6. Remove scatter
rugs 7. Remove glass
shower doors and replace with screw mount shower rod and shower curtain 8. Replace door knob
and faucet knobs with levered handles 9. Replace door
hinges with swing away hinges to increase doorway width 10. Replace standard toilet
with comfort height one making it easier to rise without loss of balance Next is the kitchen where the
goal is to eliminate stretching and bending as much as possible. 1. Lower upper
cabinet shelves where possible. Place dishes
and often used items on an easily reachable shelf 2. Replace cabinet
doorknobs with latches that open to the touch 3. Increase lighting
above the sink, stove and work areas 4. Make sure there
is a heat resistant surface adjacent to stove, oven and microwave to place hot
pots and dishes 5. Adjust
refrigerator shelves so the lighter foods are placed on top, heavier ones at waist level 6. Install single
lever faucet at kitchen sink 7 . Coat ceramic
floor tiles with non-skid coatings 8. Remove or tape
down throw rugs 9. Place microwave
on counter for easy access 10. Install pull out
drawers and pop up shelves in bottom cabinets for heavier appliances, eg. mixer 11. Make sure all
appliances are working properly and controls are easy to read and/or marked 12. Store food in
closed plastic containers for ease of selecting and carrying Other areas of the house. 1. Install low
profile thresholds or “ramps” wherever threshold exceeds ½” 2. Install railings at
any step, on both sides of stairs, and
along hallways 3. Increase stair
lighting 4. Install non-skid
stair treads, especially to exterior stairs What I’ve found with my own
clients is that getting someone to accept the need to modify their home is a
process that moves from denial, to reluctant acceptance, to reliance on the
improvement. Once we’re able to convince
a senior that the modification is necessary, they ultimately come to realize
how it benefits their life. It’s a struggle, but it’s worth it.  Susan Luxenberg President HomeSmart LLC |
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