Aging in Place

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WSLS 10 NBC in Roanoke/Lynchburg Va

This month I will begin an occasional series in Housing Matters listing some of the questions that get asked about various subjects concerning home modifications and their answers. If you have questions you would like to see answered here, please send them to cmoore@solidrockenterprises.com or call 540-384-2064. I hope this information is helpful to you. How do I know if home modifications are necessary? Many times, particularly if an aging parent lives alone, the other family members may not be aware of the struggles their loved one is having. Make a point when visiting to observe how they get around the house. Input from their doctor and other health care professionals may give you insight on their abilities and areas of difficulty. If you have concerns, it is probably time to consider an assessment. Find a contractor who specializes in home modification and who will coordinate with their health care team. What are the most important home modifications to have done? I break home modifications down into three categories, safety, accessibility, and convenience. While there is certainly some overlap and most projects will have elements of each, we need to consider the priority of projects in this order. Anything that presents a fall or other safety hazard should be taken care of immediately. Those modifications which enhance accessibility should be done as soon as possible, and those which are primarily for convenience can be delayed if budgetary concerns warrant. My loved one is very unsteady and I am worried about falls. What can I do to help prevent falls? You are correct to be concerned about falls. About one third of adults over the age of 65 fall each year, and of those who fall, two thirds will fall again within six months. The first thing you should do is make sure that there are no trailing extension cords, loose throw rugs, or clutter that could present a tripping hazard. Then make sure you have railings or grab bars installed wherever practical as something to hold onto. Having hand holds in place before they are needed will get you in the habit of reaching for them, so that when you need them the habit is already ingrained. Please don’t wait until after a fall to take action! Consider replacing slippery flooring with a non slip alternative. Remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. What are the most important home modifications to have done? I break home modifications down into three categories, safety, accessibility, and convenience. While there is certainly some overlap and most projects will have elements of each, we need to consider the priority of projects in this order. Anything that presents a fall or other safety hazard should be taken care of immediately. Those modifications which enhance accessibility should be done as soon as possible, and those which are primarily for convenience can be delayed if budgetary concerns warrant. It is hard for me to get in and out of the bathtub and I am afraid of falling. What should I do? I would strongly recommend that you have some grab bars installed. Having a strong handhold is especially important in the bathroom where surfaces are slippery and falls are common. In addition, you might want to consider a tub cut that converts your existing bathtub into a step in shower or removing the tub and installing a curbless shower. Also, if the floor of the bathroom or the shower is slippery, consider applying a non slip coating or stick on treads for a better grip.

We were recently featured in an article about aging in place Here is a link if you would like to check it out: http://www.nowu.com/article/nurture/aging-in-place/12214191/

As the Director of Education for the Western and Central Virginia Aging in Place Council I am pleased to announce that we are officially in business. The purpose of the Council is to raise awareness of the benefits of aging in place also known as long term care at home. We will be holding events throughout the area to help educate people on the value of staying home as they age and how to access the resources needed to do so safely and comfortably. If you own a business or are involved with an organization that services seniors in their homes in western or central Virginia, we would love to have you join us. For more information, visit http://www.ageinplace.org/Local-Chapters/Western-and-Central-Virginia Our next meeting will be Tuesday, July 29 at 4:30 at ProSource in Roanoke

Generally speaking, most people thank of remodeling or home modifications as being expensive. Without question, many of the solutions that we talk about in Housing Matters can be costly. There are, however, many effective aging in place solutions that are surprisingly affordable. A Baltimore area study being conducted by the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing is looking at how six visits from an occupational therapist, four visits from a nurse, and just over a thousand dollars worth of home modifications can improve someone’s ability to remain safely and comfortably in their home. “We see housing as a part of health care,” says project leader Sarah Szanton, Ph.D., an associate professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. “What one can do is a function of where one lives, so the home is a place worthy of health-care investment. What actually gets someone out of their home and into an institution are the functional consequences of disease – you can’t get your leg over the tub or you can’t stand long enough to cook.” By making modifications to the home such as a Safeway Step or a cooktop or sink with removable cabinet fronts, people find that these challenges are solved and life is easier. Some of the other low cost modifications that can help you stay safely and comfortable at home include grab bars, taller commodes, swing clear hinges on doors, lever handles on door knobs and faucets, motion sensors on lights in critical areas, contrasting colors on countertop and stair edges, extra handrails on stairs, pull out and pull down shelving in cabinets, fall protection mats, and many more. Often things like removing throw rugs, trailing extension cords, and clutter can prevent a fall. With the average hospitalization cost for someone over 65 who has a fall at $15,000 and the average cost of nursing home care at $6,700 a month, it is easy to see that money spent on home modifications to prevent falls or to prevent injury from falls is a very wise investment. I recommend looking around the home for obvious signs of danger from falls. Every year one third of adults over the age of sixty five suffers a fall, two thirds of those who fall will fall again within six months, and one third of falls are due to environmental hazards within the home. Look for clutter, obstructed walkways, throw rugs, loose flooring, or anything that could present a tripping hazard. Pay extra attention to lighting. As we age, our eyesight deteriorates and we need better lighting than when we were younger. We plan general and task lighting so that the light in all areas is bright yet glare free. Another technique is to use contrasting colors on the edges of surfaces like countertops and stairs. This makes it easier to see where the top ends and the edge begins. Add handrails and grab bars wherever an extra hand hold may help to prevent a fall. At stairs and in bathrooms are some of the most important places to add handrails or grab bars, but don’t overlook the kitchen, common areas, and bedrooms. If you need some help determining what modifications would make the greatest impact on home safety for you or your loved one, please give us a call at (540) 384-2064. We would be happy to come to your home to assess your changing needs and recommend a plan  of action. As the old saying goes, “Better safe than sorry”! Thank you for reading Housing Matters.