Daily Living Blog

Aging In Place – Our Family. Your Family.

Recently, my mom’s house flooded. A deluge of water, over 200 gallons, settled into her finished basement. Many decisions had to be made in a very short amount of time. While she is getting work done to repair damages, the idea of moving has come up. Amidst the chaos, we had a discussion about aging and stairs (her house has 3 sets of stairs).

Should she move? If she decided to stay and live the rest of her life in the home, what would that look like? If she needed stair lifts, how would she feel about 3 of them? Is this a house that she wants to age in? She and my dad purchased the home over 20 years ago. There are many memories tied to the home as well as it is even more special since my dad passed away in 2004.

She is considering and weighing her options. Thankfully she does have options. For her, it is not just about accessibility, but also about memories, comfort and choosing the wisest course for her. We have decided to give her space and time to make these decisions. While she is still only in her 70’s, it is not too early to be looking at things from all perspectives. As a result of Homecare Suppliers and our own professional experiences as well as our memories of caring for our grandmother in her 90’s, we want to be both a sounding board for her and a practical resource as she makes her decisions.

These events have gotten me thinking about other baby boomers and seniors who are facing similar situations. They might not have sound counsel within their family and friends who can direct with love and concern as well as with knowledge and understanding based upon the issues. We aren’t out to make a buck on our mom. As a matter of fact, we aren’t out to make a buck on anyone’s distress. We want to serve a need, be a resource and provide quality products. The products are the only thing for sale – the rest is our heart and passion and is priceless.

Like the saying goes… New bathlift for mom – $645, new stair lift for grandpa – $1799, direction, comfort and peace of mind for the family – PRICELESS!

So I compiled a list of what I would consider important features for my mom to keep in mind should she decide to stay forever in her home or if she decided to move to another home.

1. Stairs – if the home has stairs – to make sure that the width of the stairs is at least 36” to allow for a future stair lift. If she chooses to move, I would encourage her to look at ranch style homes that allow for easy accessibility.
2. Size & Maintenance – My mom’s current home is larger with 3bdrms, 3bath plus a finished basement. There is a lot of space and a lot of maintenance to the home. The basement had some water and mold damage which they are now fixing. It is important to be aware of the structural integrity of the home (whether existing or new home) and look at maintenance aspects for the occupant. Often times, seniors will close off or not use parts of a house. Be sure to check those areas regularly for mold, water damage or other maintenance issues. Additionally, vents to crawl spaces should not be closed off and there is a need for adequate circulation throughout the home. Ensure that the guttering and the downspouts is free and clear of debris and that a maintenance plan is established.
3. Lighting – Ensure that all areas of the home have adequate lighting. Pay close attention to hallways and stairs to ensure that they are properly lit. Exterior lighting should be not only adequate for driving into the driveway but also getting into the home. Motion Sensor Lighting is an affordable way to help with lighting the area and decreasing the maintenance need of replacing light bulbs. My husband changes the more difficult to reach light bulbs for my mom on a regular basis.
4. Railings & Doorways – Make sure that railings outside and inside the home are in good repair, and that steps and sidewalks are not damaged. Add additional railings as needed in the hallways and bathrooms. If purchasing or remodeling, consider carefully the width of the doorways realizing that wheelchairs and walkers really need a minimum width of 36”. Additionally, door handles that are the lever kind are easier to use than a typical round door handle.
5. Exterior Porch & Entry – The approach to the front door should be free of shrubs, cracked sidewalks or objects that can impede safely getting into the home. Stairs can be adjusted for less height or replaced with ramps as needed. If purchasing new, an ideal home would not have any steps to the front door or at most, one small step with little or no incline for the walkway.

There are many great resources available on the internet to assist you in beginning to prepare a home for aging in place. Here are just a few:
http://www.aarp.org/families/home_design/
http://www.adaptiveaccess.com/home_changes.php
http://www.workingcaregiver.com/articles/seniorsstayathome/agingparentshome