Aging in Place Remodeling: Remodeling today for tomorrow -

Options for Overcoming the Obstacles

Aging in Place is defined by the Center for Disease control as “the ability to live in one's own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level." 

As discussed in our previous article, the first step in this process is to honestly assess your current living situation taking into account your health and the four vital functions that are required for you and your house to be in sync:

1. Can you enter/exit your home safely? 
2. Is your bathroom accessible and usable?
3. Is your kitchen accessible and usable?
4. If you answer yes to either 2 and/or 3 then ask - is it usable with or without assistance?

Once you have determined what is making your home uncomfortable to you, you can start to research what options are available to make your home comfortable once again

ENTRANCE/EXIT:

Being able to get into or out of your home is an essential part of enjoying your home and there are many options to help you depending on your situation. Listed are just a few:

1. Front stairs

• Landscape the slope of the property to allow for no stairs.
• Install a railing on one or both side of your entrance stairs.
• Add a portable threshold ramp if just one small step.
• Install an outside chairlift or a removable ramp
• Add a 5’ landing  with overhead protection for  easy turning.      
• Add additional lighting to illuminate the walkway and entrance.     

2. Front Door

• Widen the entrance to a clear 34”-36” opening 
• Install a lever door handle possibly with a keyless entry
• Automatic door opener, similar to garage door opener

HALLWAY/SECOND FLOOR ACCESS:

1. 42” width whenever possible 
2. Install railing down one or both sides of a long hall, if wide enough  to help with balance
3. Install and second hand rail on stairs
4. Install chair lifts or elevators to safely reach upper/lower floors
5. Add lever handles to all doors
6. Add additional lights and night lights to illuminate the hall at night

BATHROOM:

1. Widen the door to a clear 34”-36” opening to allow for ease of entry with assisted devices or 2 people and add a lever handle.
2. Install a slip resistant floor such as Ceramic Tile (with a coefficient of friction greater than 0.06 when wet), Vinyl flooring in either sheet or tiles or a Rubber floor.
3. Add a comfort height toilet: either by adding an adaptive device or installing a new higher toilet.
4. Install a pedestal sink or a vanity that is open below for ease of access.
5. Add transfer chairs to ease access to bathtub.
6. Change the tub to one with an easy access door or remove it and install a no or low threshold shower with bench seat.
7. Add fixtures/faucets with lever handles and anti-scald devices in both sink and tub/shower units
8. Have Grab bars, which now come in a variety of styles and finishes, installed in all areas of the bathroom by a professional to ensure safe usage.
9. Add additional lighting and night lights.

KITCHEN:

1.  Install slip resistant level floors such as wood with a satin finish,  ceramic tile, Vinyl sheet/ tile, or Cork.
2. Vary the height of the cabinets and countertops with easy to use handles.
3. Install pull down or motorized upper cabinets, or open upper/lower shelving with no doors.
4. Add appliances that are easy to use such as: refrigerators with French doors/ bottom freezer, refrigerator or dishwasher drawers, ovens with a side hinged door.
5. Install wall oven and dishwasher to ease of use height.  Microwave on counter or in a lower cabinet with a pull out shelf below for placement of hot food.
6. Lower cooktops making sure controls are reachable without having to cross a hot surface.
7. Add additional general and task lighting.

Some Additional thoughts regarding Whole House safety:

1. Install rocker light switches and lower switches and thermostats to 48” off finished floor.
2. Raise outlets to 18” off finished floor.
3.  Installing  a whole house alarm with additional technology such as: camera monitoring, remote controls, movement sensors.
4. Add a Personal Emergency Response System. 
5. Stove top fire suppression system or monitor that will automatically turn off the stove.

These are only  a few of the many options  that are available in helping you overcome the obstacles you may be facing as you move about your home, but now the questions are  How am I going to be able to  pay for these options and how do I know who to hire to help me?

Next in our series will help answer those questions:  Aging in Place: Remodeling Today for Tomorrow –Your Resources

Carol Marie DeRienzo, RN, BSN, CAPS, CHM, UDCP, The Nurse Carpenter, president of Solace RNovations, Inc. (www.solacern.com) Our mission is by using the Eye of the Carpenter and the Heart of the Nurse, to develop customized solutions for all ages and abilities that fit your individual needs and preferences to help you stay in your home more safely and comfortably as long as possible.

Aging in Place Remodeling: Remodeling today for tomorrow- OBSTACLES

Remember when you first bought your home? Like most people you developed a special relationship with your home since it became your safe zone – a place that not only provided shelter but more importantly a place where you felt connected to family, friends and yourself. It’s a place where you came and went whenever you wanted with no restrictions.  Over time your house fit you like your favorite pair of jeans – comfortable, dependable and nonthreatening.

Unfortunately like your jeans that had been washed a thousand times your home may at some point seem like it doesn’t “fit” you anymore. What changed? Well in my case the stairs seemed steeper than before, I’d swear someone lowered my toilet making it harder to use comfortably , and never mind the kitchen cabinets which seemed to have grown a full foot above where they used to be. In reality though what happened is that the house didn’t change at all - I changed. I lived life and that living had some effects. Houses aren’t like pets who will love you no matter how you change. Houses don’t have the capacity like pets to anticipate your needs and change to match them. They are a static structure incapable of making an accessible bathroom appear overnight.

What it takes is the right planning, timing and money to make the changes that once again makes you and your house one. This is where the term Aging in Place started. Aging in Place is defined by the Center for Disease control as “the ability to live in one's own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level." 

The first step in this process is to honestly assess your current living situation taking into account your health and the four vital functions that are required for you and your house to be in sync:

1.  Can you enter/exit your home safely?
2.  Is the bathroom accessible and useable?
3.  Is the kitchen accessible and useable?
4.  If yes to 2 and 3 is it useable by you or with assistance?

Expanding on these four items you can delve deeper into what specifically needs to be addressed by asking more questions:

•  Are you able to enter/exit your home in a safe manner?
•  Are you able to open doors, turn knobs?
•  Is there clear passage with enough room to move through the halls?
•  Can you navigate with ease around the Living Room/Family Room?
•  Are there slip-able throw rugs on the floors?
•  Is the flooring smooth and durable and can you distinguish between thresholds and edges?
•  Can you use your kitchen appliances/sink/faucet?
•  Reach the plates/glassware? 
•  Is there enough lighting in the home?
•  Is there a Bathroom and/or a Bedroom on the main floor?
•  Can you go up/down the stairs and is there a railing on both sides?
•  Can you get to your bedroom?
•  Is your closet functional for you to reach your clothing?
•  Can you get from your bed to the bathroom safely?
•  Can you use your Bathroom with ease?
•  Is the toilet high enough?
•  Can you reach the sink/faucet and medicine cabinet?
•  Can you use your tub/shower unit?
•  Are there grab bars in the tub/shower unit?
•  Is there a grab bar along the wall instead of a towel bar?
•  Are you able to open/close the windows and/or curtains/shades?
•  Can you reach the light switches/outlets/thermostats?
•  Can you call 911 and safely leave your home in an emergency?

Once you have determined what is making your home uncomfortable to you, you can start to research what options are available to make your home comfortable once again.

Next in the series: Options to Overcoming the Obstacles   
                                                           
Carol Marie DeRienzo, RN, BSN, CAPS, CHM, UDCP, The Nurse Carpenter, president of Solace RNovations, Inc. (www.solacern.com) Our mission is by using the Eye of the Carpenter and the Heart of the Nurse, to develop customized solutions for all ages and abilities that fit your individual needs and preferences to help you stay in your home more safely and comfortably as long as possible.