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Tips & Resources for Aging in Place

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As I visit endless Web sites for senior living, I never cease to be amazed by the luxurious ambience that many of these facilities offer. With chandeliers, antique furnishings and ornate tapestries, some of them look downright palatial! These places certainly seem fancy, and in many cases, homey, but they aren't home; at least, they aren't the house where you raised your children, or the place that holds your memories. According to AARP, 83 percent of people 45 and older are homeowners. A survey conducted by the association in 2003 that found three quarters of those people expect to remain exactly where they are for the rest of their lives. While many continuing care retirement communities offer residents a chance to age in place right on campus, aging in place without any relocation is trickier. It is, however, entirely doable. Many forward-thinking seniors are remodeling their homes to accommodate decreased mobility, dexterity, strength and stamina, along with reduced sensory acuity. If you'd like to jump on that bandwagon without triggering your trick knee, follow these easy tips:

• Focus your activities of daily living to the ground floor of your home.
• Make sure your home has at least one point of entrance with no stairs.
• Widen doorways to at least 36 inches, which will fit a wheelchair.
• Use levered door handles. For someone with arthritis, pressing down is easier than turning a knob.
• Place electrical outlets 18 inches high, instead of 12; move light switches to 42 inches from the floor instead of 48.
• Install strobe light or vibrator-assisted burglar and smoke alarms.
• Move your peep hole to eye-level.
• Incorporate an emergency response system.
• Use lever faucets with anti-scald valves and temperature-controlled tub and shower fixtures.
• Place grab bars in the bathroom and wherever else you may need them.

Proactive Health Research Technologies, in collaboration with Intel Research Seattle, is currently building an advanced system for the home that incorporates four main areas of technology: sensor networks to sense the location of people and objects, home networks that allow interaction through multiple touch points, including TVs, clock radios and telephones, activity tracking systems that analyze daily chores (which is helpful in detecting onset of dementia) and ambient display technology, which allows loved ones to check in on their elderly family members through a photo frame, for example. In the future, these technologies will make aging in place a possibility for even those with severe illnesses. Until these options are available to you, it may be wise to visit the National Association of Homebuilders Web site to find a certified aging-in-place specialist in your area. If you're doing most of this project without guidance, you may want to check out The National Aging in Place Council, a membership organization that aims to bring awareness of home and community-based services that support independent living.

Posted in: Caregiver Support, Caregiving, Caregiving, Hiring Homecare, Home Modification, Home Safety & Fall Prevention, Homecare 101, Uncategorized

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