Modify Your Home

Home Modifications for Safety and Quality of Life

There are many simple modifications that can increase the safety and convenience of any home. More people are choosing to stay in their homes as they age. By implementing some of these creative solutions to mobility and daily living challenges, you or your loved ones can maintain independence with safety and confidence.

The Challenges	Solutions
Safe and Accessible Entryways, Inside and Out Falls inside and outside the home are the number one cause of injury among the elderly. Are you concerned about your loved one’s ability to maintain balance? Does he or she have coordination problems? What about walking and climbing steps? There are a number of obstacles inside and outside a home that can cause mom or dad to trip and fall. Door thresholds, curbs, unlit entryways, wet flooring, raised room floors, carpeting etc. are just a few.	Entrance Solutions: At least one entrance without steps and a flat or low threshold A 5’ by 5’ maneuvering space at the stepless entrance Clean, textured pathways that lead to and from the curb Well-lit entry Motion sensitive lighting outdoors Handrails Ramps, or gently sloping path Interior Solutions: 32 inches of clearance through passage doors 42-inch-wide hallways where possible Bedroom and bathroom on the main floor Laundry on the main floor No area rugs, and low-pile carpet with firm padding Click here to learn more about the modified home entry.
Limited Reach Limited reach, hand and arm strength, dexterity, ability to stand, height: Can mom or dad reach high above their head or pick up items on the ground? Are you concerned about ability to grasp? What about height? As people age they lose inches from their stature. They may also lose their ability to stand for long periods, or lose their ability to stand entirely. Many daily living tasks become disheartening for an aging adult without easy access to daily necessities.	Kitchen Solutions: Maneuvering space at doors: If in-swinging door obstructs a bathroom or kitchen fixture, use offset hinges, swing door out, hinge door on opposite jamb or widen doorway Increase the number of electrical outlets for additional lighting and alarm indicators, especially in bedrooms Clear floor space in kitchen with a minimum 60-inch turning circle Lever faucet Handles, not knobs, on cabinets and drawers Adaptable cabinets to reveal knee space Click here to learn more about common kitchen problems, then find out what modifications you can do to fix them.
The Bathroom The bathroom can be the most dangerous room in the home of an aging adult or differently-abled person. Are there non-slip surfaces? Enough clear floor space for aided mobility? Does your loved one use a cane or a walker? Is the bathroom a safe place for them when using their mobility equipment? Are the bathtub and shower controls reachable, easy to use and require little strength? Where are the grab bars in the bathroom? Are there grab bars near the toilet, shower and tub? Is a shower chair available and convenient? Ample space around the toilet? Common Problems Narrow entry doors Lack of turning space Lack of maneuvering space to side of toilet Toilet location obstructs bathing fixture No knee space below sink No reinforcing in walls for grab bars	Bathroom Solutions: 5’ by 5’ clear floor space in the bathroom Non-slip flooring Bathroom size of at least 5’ by 8’ Broadly applied bands of reinforcement inside walls around toilets and bath fixtures for installation of grab bars Textured grab bars by toilet, bathtub and shower Offset controls in shower/tub to minimize bending and reaching 48” by 56” toilet space with centerline of toilet 18” from side wall Shower bench Hand-held shower head Curbless shower, with non-slip surface and fold-down seat Doors that can be unlocked from the outside A bathroom telephone Rounded counter edges Click here to learn more about the modified bathroom.

Modify Your Home

Home Modifications for Safety and Quality of Life

Safe and Accessible Entryways, Inside and Out

Entrance Solutions:

Interior Solutions:

Limited Reach

Kitchen Solutions:

The Bathroom

Bathroom Solutions: