Strategies for Enhancing Home Safety for the Elderly
As more older adults express the desire to age in place, or stay in their homes as they grow older, a growing number of specialists are trained to help make homes safer and more accessible for seniors.
Aging in place requires home modifications that focus on safety, accessibility, and ease of movement. Simple changes like adding grab bars, removing electric cords from walking paths, and getting rid of slippery throw rugs can make a significant difference in preventing accidents.
More substantial changes may include converting showers to curbless or roll-in designs, widening hallways, and installing stairlifts or home elevators. These modifications can help seniors navigate their homes more easily and reduce the risk of falls.
The VEVOR 4-inch rubber threshold ramp, available at Lowe's for under $100, can help navigate doorways with wheelchairs, scooters, or carts. For those who meet certain criteria, Special Adaptive Housing Grants through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs can provide up to $24,405 this year to help cover the costs of home renovations.
Technology also plays a role in facilitating aging in place. Telehealth, sensors for lighting, medication reminders, wearable devices, and social media can help seniors maintain their independence and stay connected.
For those looking to remodel their homes for aging in place, AARP has designed a popular "Checklist for Aging in Place." The guide recommends starting small by raising toilet heights and moving things to lower shelves. Larger renovations may include adding first-floor master bedrooms or accessible living spaces, and converting showers to curbless or roll-in designs.
The cost to renovate a home for aging in place varies widely, typically ranging from about $1,500 for minor modifications up to $300,000 or more for extensive renovations or additions tailored to long-term accessibility and safety needs. Many families choose these renovations as cost-effective alternatives to long-term care facilities.
Amy Goyer, a family caregiving expert for AARP, is personally renovating a home for aging in place. She emphasizes the importance of being able to safely enter and exit the home, and suggests that a ramp can be built to help with this, without having to look like a traditional ramp.
In summary, basic aging-in-place modifications can be affordable at a few thousand dollars, while comprehensive remodels or additions tailored for full accessibility typically cost tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars, reflecting both the extent of physical work and custom features involved. With the right modifications, older adults can continue to live comfortably and safely in their own homes.
- Science and technology can significantly improve the lifestyle of older adults, with telehealth, sensors for lighting, medication reminders, wearable devices, and social media assisting in maintaining their independence and staying connected.
- Reflecting both the extent of physical work and custom features involved, comprehensive home renovations tailored for full accessibility under the home-and-garden category typically cost tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars, making them a cost-effective alternative to long-term care facilities.
- To live comfortably and safely in their own homes as they age, older adults may need to consider fitness-and-exercise-related modifications such as widening hallways, converting showers to curbless or roll-in designs, and adding grab bars for health-and-wellness purposes.
