Safety in the Home
As the weather gets cooler, we will be likely to spend more time indoors. It is a good time to look at our homes for safety and fall prevention. As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Let’s take time this month to look at our home as if it were the first time we saw it. Sometimes a fresh perspective will show us things we never saw before. Let’s start with the front door. Is there a clear, slip resistant, hard surface walkway to reach it? Is there plenty of bright lighting, preferably on a motion detector? Is the entryway protected from the weather? Is there a package shelf where you can place items while opening the door? Are there full-length sidelights or multiple peep sights so that everyone in the household can see who is at the door before opening it? Is there a zero-step entryway so that people of various abilities can enter easily? If you answered no to any of these questions, you might want to consider making some changes to your entryway. Once inside the door look for lack of lighting and fall hazards as well as other safety issues as you move throughout the home. One of the most common tripping hazards found in homes is loose throw rugs. Loose flooring, particularly at transitions between different flooring types can be another cause for concern. Make sure that there are not trailing extension cords or clutter in walkways that could present a fall hazard. Handrails, grab bars, or other handholds throughout the house can be helpful in preventing falls. Bright, glare free lighting in the home, particular in circulation areas such as hallways and stairs can help prevent falls. Battery powered; motion activated lights are a low-cost way to bring light to dimly lit areas. Most of these hazards can be remedied at little to no cost just by taking the time to address them. If you have a loved one who would benefit from these measures, help them to see the importance of preventative measures. As always, the bathroom is a prime area of concern when it comes to safety and fall prevention. There are many safety concerns in the typical bathroom. The room is too small, the floors are too slippery, the door is too narrow, the lighting is too dim, the controls are too difficult to operate, the tub or shower is difficult to enter, and there are no grab bars or other fall prevention. Think safety first, accessibility second, and convenience third. Grab bars should be included in every bathroom, regardless of the age of the residents. Safety and fall prevention are for everyone. If the flooring is slippery, changing the flooring or adding a slip resistant coating should be a high priority. Widening the door and changing the bathtub to a curbless shower will allow the bathroom to be more accessible to all. Adding lever controls to the doorknob, faucets, shower valve, and other controls will allow those with limited hand strength to access the controls. Adding better lighting will improve safety by making it easier to see. Changing the faucets and shower valves to pressure balancing, positemp controls or lowering the water temperature can help prevent burns, particularly among those with limited feeling in their extremities. I hope these suggestions will help you look at your home with new eyes. If you need help implementing any of these ideas, or any of our other remodeling services, please give us a call at 540-384-2064 or visit our website at www.solidrockenterprises.com.
Features to look for in a New Home
If after assessing your current home and considering its accessibility features (or lack thereof) you have decided that making a change of venue is in your best interest, it is important to know what to look for in a new home. When looking for a new home in which to age in place, I would recommend that you consider not only the features of the home itself, but also its proximity to services that you might need as well as support services that could be helpful in your aging in place efforts. I will address each of those concerns separately here. In the home itself, the first thing I would look for is at least one zero step entry. Ideally, this entry should be protected from the weather, with a motion activated light and a package shelf. If there is an attached garage, then this is an ideal place for a zero step entry into the house. I would eliminate any house that does not have a zero step entry or could easily have one installed. The ability for people of all ages and abilities to enter the house is critical for a house for all ages. Doorways into the house and throughout all critical areas of the home (bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, etc.) should be 36” wide. If possible, find a house with 42” wide hallways, but at least 36”. A single story house or one equipped with an elevator or lift would enable you to access the entire even if stairs become too difficult to climb. I also consider an accessible bathroom on an accessible level to be a must have for any house to be used for aging in place. The bathroom should feature a 36” wide door, 60” diameter clear floor space for turning, a curbless shower, and a roll under sink. Other features to look floor include bright, glare free lighting, non slip flooring, fall protection, accessible storage, and easy to clean surfaces. I would also make sure that bedrooms and common areas such as living and dining rooms are easy to get to. Finally, especially if cooking and baking are activities that you enjoy, I would look for an accessible kitchen. Features to look for in an accessible kitchen include adjustable or varied countertop heights, accessible appliances, bright, glare free lighting, non slip flooring, fall protection, accessible storage, and easy to clean surfaces Accessible appliances include such things as roll under cooktop and sink, raised dishwasher, microwave and wall oven at convenient heights with adjacent countertops for placing dishes when removing, and French door refrigerators or those with freezer compartments on the bottom. Another valuable feature to look for is pull out and pull down shelves in cabinets. Accessible outdoor living areas such as porches, patios, and garden areas would be another option worth considering. Outside of the home, consider the location. Is the home convenient to amenities such as shopping, public transportation, delivery and home care services and other services that may be required? Is there a senior village or other network of people helping people located nearby? Is it located in a neighborhood that is improving or in decline? There is a lot of talk these days about walkable communities and the idea of neighborhoods that look more like an old fashioned village where everything you need is in close proximity to your home. If you have extended family or close friends that provide an informal support network, you would also want to consider proximity to them. Please call 540-556-0650 if you have questions.
Maintain your Independence!
July is when we celebrate Independence Day, otherwise known as the Fourth of July. Fireworks and picnics seem faraway this year, but Independence Day is more important than ever. As you know, Independence Day commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 in Philadelphia. We celebrate this day because it represents our establishment as a sovereign nation and release from the burden of oppressive taxation. (One hundred and forty-three years later, we have oppressive taxation and overbearing government regulation that would make our Founding Fathers roll over in their graves. But that is not the subject of this article.) What I want to talk about today is independence with a small “i”. Not in the political sense, but in the everyday sense. We all like to make our own decisions about our day to day lives. Our ability to make our own decisions and live independently can diminish with age if we do not take steps to protect and preserve our independence. Like all liberties, our ability to live independently throughout the course of our life will erode if not safeguarded. What kinds of liberties am I talking about and how can they be safeguarded? For starters, a home that will be safe and accessible even in the face of mobility challenges will allow us to physically remain in our home as long as we choose to. Having the proper legal documents in place is vital. This ensures that our wishes will be carried out in case we are not able to communicate. I am a strong advocate of planning early so that our later years can be relaxing rather than stressful. Having trusted resources for caregiving, transportation, and other needs preselected before they are needed leads to less stress and a better outcome. Having the financial resources in place to pay for all these needs is very important as well. Of all these areas, financial planning is the one area that most people recognize the need for. I am looking forward to the day that people plan for their housing, healthcare, transportation, and social and community interaction needs in retirement as well as they plan for their financial needs. If this kind of planning to preserve your independence makes sense to you and you would be interested in receiving a free resource to get you started, please give me a call at 540-384-2064. I would like to get you a copy of the planning guide put out by the National Aging in Place Council. This 24-page guide walks you through the process of assessing your needs, prioritizing them, and creating a plan to live a better later life. If you think you are too young to be making these kinds of decisions, remember if you don’t make these decisions regarding your retirement, someone else will make them for you. If you cherish your independence, you must work and plan to keep it. So, enjoy your summer and your Independence Day celebrations. Spend some time with family and friends. Just don’t forget to take time to make plans to preserve your independence throughout the course of your life. A few minutes spent planning for your future now can change the course of your life in years to come. If I can be of service to you or a loved one to help make your home safe, accessible, and beautifully for you to enjoy independently throughout the course of your life please give me a call. You can reach me at 540-384-2064. Happy Fourth of July and thank you for reading Housing Matters!
Home is Where the Heart is
Home is where the heart is. We have all heard this saying. It suggests that we are most comfortable in our own homes, surrounded by family, memories, comfort, and the furnishings and items that we hold dear. This has always been the case and numerous studies undertaken over a period of years and decades indicate that most people strongly prefer to remain in their own homes throughout the course of their lives. None of this has changed. What has changed is that with recent developments people have become even more fearful and apprehensive of relocating to any type of congregate living arrangement. This increased apprehension and the growing population of older Americans will fuel the increased demand for Aging in Place products and services. For the past twelve years I have been advocating for the benefits of Aging in Place, providing home modification, and consulting services, and writing and speaking about the other services needed to successfully age in place.According to the National Aging in Place Council there are five core areas required for successful Aging in Place. These areas are Housing, Healthcare, Personal Finance, Transportation, and Community and Social Interaction. We need a home to Age in Place in. As we grow older often our needs change. These needs can include mobility, sensory, and cognitive challenges. It is important that the homes we live in be built or modified to meet these needs. It is also important that we have access to the healthcare services we need to live quality lives. These services include not only medical care, but nutrition, therapy, and exercise programs as well. We must have the means to pay for housing and healthcare as well as all our other expenses. We must have access to reliable transportation. Often older people reach a point when they can no longer drive safely. Giving up driving not only creates transportation challenges but loss of a sense of independence as well. It is important that alternative transportation sources help to fill in the gap. Finally, social isolation is a problem for many older adults living alone. The ability to interact with others is important, especially to more outgoing people. When all of these factors are in place it makes the ability to live comfortably in the home of your choice throughout your life much safer and more enjoyable.The real challenge for those of us in the industry is how to deliver services in these five core areas to people that need them in an efficient manner. Often people discover that they need these services suddenly because of a traumatic life event such as a fall. They do not know what services they need much less where to find them. Therefore, I espouse the importance of early planning. If you are interested in a free Aging in Place Planning Guide, please give me a call at 540-556-0650 and I will tell you how to get a copy. This planning guide walks you through a self-assessment of your needs in the five core areas of Aging in Place and helps you to formulate a plan to fill in the gaps. I recommend getting the guide and getting your plan in place before you need it. Decisions made in a crisis are never your best decisions. I believe that we will see many new and innovative delivery models emerge over the next few years. Finally, if you are a professional who works with seniors, I will be teaching Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) designation classes on June 22-24. Call me at 540-556-0650 for more inform
Safety in the Rock
As I sit down to write this month’s column, many people around me are consumed with fear and the overriding sense of uncertainty of what the days and weeks ahead will look like is palpable. Where do you turn for comfort when uncertainty fills your life? It is precisely during times of crisis and uncertainty that the need for faith in an omnipresent and omniscient God is shown most clearly. It is easy to have faith when the sailing is smooth, the sun is shining, there is money in the bank, and everyone is healthy. When the storm clouds gather, the cupboards and the bank account are bare, and sickness looms we discover whether our faith is strong or anemic. Or maybe you don’t have any faith in anything larger than yourself. Maybe you are one of those people who depends entirely on your own resources to get you through whatever life brings your way. In that case you are definitely facing a crisis when you find yourself face to face with a situation that you have absolutely no power to control. When I was starting my company twenty years ago I named it Solid Rock Enterprises after the scripture in Matthew 7: 24-27 which says, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” On what foundation is your life built on? Have you had more time on your hands lately to think about it? The Bible says that whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved! Have you also noticed things around your house that need attention lately? Safety in the home is a very real concern. According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), falls are the leading cause of fatal injury and the most common cause of nonfatal trauma-related hospital admissions among older adults. Falls result in more than 2.8 million injuries treated in emergency departments annually, including over 800,000 hospitalizations and more than 27,000 deaths. Many of these falls are due to environmental hazards within the home. Things like trailing extension cords and clutter can be remedied easily. Other projects require more of an investment but are well worth the expense in increased peace of mind and decreased chance of falling. Here are a few items to consider: Adding grab bars throughout your home in areas of fall risk such as bathrooms, stairways, level changes, and entryways. Adding extra lighting in areas that are poorly lit. Adding motion sensors will assure that the lights are on when you need them. Adding non slip flooring in place of slippery flooring, especially wet areas such as bathrooms, laundry areas, and kitchens. Also adding anti slip treads or tape on stairs can help prevent a nasty fall. Converting a bathtub into a curbless or step in shower can make it easier and safer to bathe. Be sure to incorporate the grab bars mentioned above and possibly a shower seat. If I can help with any of these or other home safety modifications, please give me a call at 540-384-2064
Protection from Fear
There is a great deal of fear and apprehension in the air these days. Many people are overcome with overwhelming fear of coronavirus. Without delving into the validity or lack thereof of the threat itself I would like to take a few moments to address our reaction to it. It is during times of fear and uncertainty that we come face to face with where our trust resides and what we count on to get us through difficult times. Psalm 20:7 says “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” It is during times of adversity that we discover whether or not we do truly trust in the Lord or God. I would encourage you all to put your trust in God during these uncertain times and always. There is a story of a Brigade of soldiers in World War 1. This Brigade fought in some of the bloodiest conflicts in the Great War. Other units sustained up to 90% casualties in these conflicts, but this Brigade never lost a man. What was their secret? Each man in the Brigade recited a Psalm of protection each day. You may wonder which Psalm they recited. It is the 91st Psalm and they were the 91st Brigade. I encourage you to tap into the power that protected the 91st Brigade to protect you throughout the course of your life. If you are not familiar with it, it goes like this: He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him will I trust.” Surely, He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence, He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; for He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation. I hope and pray that you and your family will be blessed and encouraged by this column and we will return to Housing Matters next month.
Aging in Place: It’s not just for Old People Anymore!
Yes, I said it. I used the “O” word. In a society enamored with youth, the word old has become one of those words we are not supposed to say in polite society anymore. We have come up with all kinds of synonyms. Some of these are “senior citizens”, “over the hill”, “getting on in years”, and “chronologically superior”. Personally, I think we should celebrate those of our number who reach a ripe old age. The Bible says in Job 12:12, “Wisdom is with aged men, And with length of days, understanding.” In spite of this, there is a definite aversion in our society to the idea of growing old. All sorts of products, processes, and techniques promise to slow down or reverse the signs of aging. People go to great lengths to appear to be younger than they are. The very term, “aging in place” causes many to people to recoil in horror at the very idea that you used the word “aging” when speaking to them. I have a suggestion. Rather than work on convincing people to be more comfortable with their advancing years, I suggest we work on getting all people to embrace the safety and accessibility features we recommend. After all, studies show that only 15% of us will go through life without experiencing a mobility impairment of some kind. We can all lose our balance sometimes. The addition of grab bars in showers, handrails and non slip surfaces on stairs, and bright glare free lighting are all features that make sense for everyone. Designing and building spaces that work well for people of all ages and abilities is called Universal Design. The more that Universal Design catches on and accessibility solutions become “baked in” to everyone’s homes, the less need there will be to modify homes to meet people’s changing needs as they age. An example of a Universal Design feature that is starting to catch on is wider doorways. We are slowly seeing the use of wider doorways in new construction. While it used to be rare to see a 3’-0” wide exterior door anywhere but on the front door, it is quite common nowadays to see all the exterior doors on a house be 3’-0” wide. And where bathroom doors used to almost always be 2’-0” or 2’-4” wide, we are gradually beginning to see 2’-8” or even 3’-0” wide bathroom doors. The minimum net clear opening to be considered accessible is 32” so I would prefer to see all doors at least 3’-0” wide. This trend makes good common sense. The cost difference between a 2’-0” wide door and a 3’-0” door is likely to be less than twenty dollars, while the cost to remove the 2’-0” door later and install a 3’-0” wide door can easily run over a thousand. As an added benefit, Universal Design is upscale. Wider doorways, wider hallways, open floor plans, and large spa like bathrooms are all features we typically find in upscale homes. The improved accessibility is just icing on the cake. We can have our cake and eat it too! In other words, our accessibility and safety features can be features that are warm and inviting to people of all ages and abilities. By changing the way we think about aging in place we can truly make it appealing to everyone. That is why there are those who prefer the term “Living in Place”. I believe that over time we will see these features become mainstream. As always, thank you for reading Housing Matters.
Best Home Improvement Contractors
Looking for trusted best home improvement contractors near you in Salem, VA? We provide expert remodeling, repairs, and renovation services to upgrade your home with quality craftsmanship. February is the shortest month of the year. With its short days, long nights, and cold temperatures, you are likely spending a lot of time indoors. Hopefully, you have a warm fire to curl up in front of. It is a great time to do some thinking and planning for the future of home improvements. Since you are spending so much time indoors, look around your home and see if any improvements need to be made. Is there an area of your home that you have been thinking of upgrading (Maybe for years)? Are there repairs that you have been putting off? Are there rooms in your home that don’t meet your needs anymore? Do you need to make safety or accessibility improvements? Maybe you have been putting these changes off because you think it would be a hassle and a disruption to your life to remodel or renovate your home. Maybe you have been putting them off because you think they will cost too much. Whatever the reason, maybe it is time to give some thought to moving some of these long-overdue projects to the front burner. If you decide that you want to consider a home improvement project, then Senior Remodeling Expert can help. We are happy to meet with you to begin the process of organizing your priorities and deciding what projects you would like to undertake. We can help you to figure out what it will cost and how long it will take. And we can make your dream into a reality, whether it is an updated kitchen or bath, a new outdoor living space for when the weather warms up, or any other home improvement project. And through the whole process, we will keep in mind your present and future accessibility needs so that your home will continue to be safe and accessible for you throughout the course of your life. By incorporating accessibility improvements to your project, you may qualify for the Livable Homes Tax Credit and potentially save up to $5,000 on your state income taxes. Incidentally, if you completed a project on your home in 2019 that included accessibility features, you have until February 28 to apply for the LHTC for 2019. You can take half of the cost of what you spent on accessibility features as a credit against your State Income taxes. Examples of accessibility features of Home Improvements : • Accessible route, such as a ramp • Zero-step entry • Lifts • Elevators • Zero-step entrance • 32” clear width doorways • 36” clear width hallways • Accessible switches, outlets, and controls • Accessible bathrooms • Accessible and usable kitchen facilities • Grab bars • Lever handles on doors and fixtures • Sensory modifications The credit may also apply if you had a new home built in 2019 (or converted one from a non-residential use) that incorporates at least three accessibility features or includes the three features of Universal Visitability it may qualify for the $5,000 credit as well. The three features of Universal Visitability are 1) at least one zero step entry into the house, 2) an accessible bathroom on the same level as the zero step entry, and 3) doorways with at least 32” clear width and hallways and passageways with at least 36” clear width leading from the zero step entry to the bathroom and an eating area. If you would like to make changes that qualify for the LHTC in 2020, give us a call. We can help you make your home a better place to live and keep some of your hard-earned money out of the hands of the tax man next year!
Ten Years Later It was ten years ago, in May of 2009, that the very first edition of Housing Matters appeared here in the pages of Senior News. It is hard to believe that ten years have passed. In that initial column I laid out the fact that most people want to continue to live in their own homes as they age. I also pointed out that most of our homes are not designed and built for people of any age who are experiencing any mobility impairments. These two facts have not changed appreciably in the last ten years. When asked, most people will still tell you they would prefer to remain in their own homes throughout the course of their lives. Unfortunately, most homes are still built with no thought towards accommodating the mobility impairments that can happen to us at any stage of our lives, but are increasingly likely to occur as we grow older. Most of our homes are still what I call “Peter Pan Housing”. What is “Peter Pan Housing” you ask? Simply put, it is housing built for people who never grow old! The standard home, with its steep stairs, small bathrooms, narrow doorways, dim lighting, slippery floors, and cramped kitchen, is simply not suited for the growing number of us who don’t get around as well as we used to. Not to mention those of us who don’t see or hear as well as we used to. Or who have trouble with balance. The list goes on and on. Don’t get me wrong. I do not mean to create the impression that I think nothing has changed in ten years. I do not believe that all of my writing and speaking and persuading people to modify their homes has been in vain. Let me tell you some of the things that I have seen change in the last ten years. First of all, the awareness of Aging in Place is growing by leaps and bounds. Ten years ago, when I mentioned Aging in Place, Universal Design, or home modification, almost no one knew what I was talking about. Today, many people understand these terms and are planning ahead to make changes to their homes before it becomes an urgent need. This is particularly true when people have spent any time in the role of a caregiver for a parent or other loved one. We still have a long way to go in getting people to plan for a better later life, but I am encouraged by the progress that we have made. Many people are still resistant to the idea of thinking and talking about the fact that their needs are changing as they get older. We need to keep working to persuade people that “expect the best, prepare for the worst” is very good advice. Another area that I have seen great change in is the explosion of new products and services in the marketplace. There are products such as Safeway Steps to convert a bathtub into a step in shower and new railing and grab bar options by the dozens. There are technology based solutions to help loved ones stay in touch and respond quickly when there is a need. There are companies that supply needs from transportation to meal and prescription delivery to home care directly to people’s homes popping up everywhere. Meanwhile as baby boomers continue to turn 65 at the rate of 10,000 per day (the oldest baby boomers are now 73) the need for aging in place goods and services continues to grow. What will the next ten years bring? Let’s find out together!
A Brand New Year
As I write this, it is a few days before Christmas. Everyone is scurrying around getting their last minute preparations done. The children are nearly bursting with excitement and anticipation. Festive lights and sounds are everywhere. By the time you read these words, however, the year 2019 will have begun. The resolutions will have all been made. Many of them will have already been broken. I prefer setting goals to making resolutions. What are your goals for 2019? May I suggest that you consider making an aging in place plan one of your goals for this year? Many people think that aging in place means that you stay where you are throughout the course of your life and make the best of it. Sometimes that is not the best choice. Actually, successful aging in place entails aging in the right place. In other words, we choose where we will live and what services we will utilize. We should make these decisions in advance of needing the features and benefits of an accessible home. We should investigate in home services and know what resources are available and trustworthy long before we have need of any of these services. Having a plan in place in advance makes the entire process smoother and less traumatic. Many people turn a blind eye to their declining mobility and their changing needs. They prefer to remain in denial that they don’t get around as well as they used too, are at increasing risk of falling, have declining vision and hearing, or face a myriad of other issues. Sometimes the prospect of facing these concerns head on seems too frightening. It seems easier, somehow, to wear the rose colored glasses. The problem with this approach is that, too often, it culminates in a fall and a significant, life altering injury. Faced with a crisis, the options are limited and the process is stressful. Decisions made in crisis mode are rarely the best decisions. By planning ahead, you can make decisions about you or your loved one’s aging in place plans. The plan should include where you will live, who will take care of you, and how you will pay for it. I have available a number of resources to help you get started on your aging in place plan. I would recommend that you get a copy of the National Aging in Place Council’s planning guide. Entitled “Act III: Your Plan for Aging in Place”, the guide walks you through a questionnaire on the five core areas of aging in place. These areas are housing, health and wellness, personal finance, transportation, and community and social interaction. After determining where you are, it helps you form a plan to fill the gaps. You can obtain a copy by visiting my website at https://solidrockenterprises.com/service/aging-in-place/ and clicking on “download planning guide”. You can also email me at cmoore@solidrockenterprises.com or call me at 540-384-2064 and I would be happy to send you a copy. For those of you who want to know if your current home will meet your changing needs in the future, I offer a Comprehensive Safety and Accessibility Assessment. By assessing your home and making recommendations for needed home modifications, I can provide a road map to a safer and more accessible home. Call or email me for more details. Finally I will be speaking at the 10th Annual Greater Roanoke Home and Garden Show. Held at the Berglund Center on January 11-13, the show features Wayde King and Brett Raymer of Animal Planet’s Tanked. Visit http://showtechnology.com/event/annual-greater-roanoke-home-garden-show/ for more information. Happy New Year!