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Home & Garden Articles
Preparing Your Home for the Future
Sat 16 Dec 2006 - 12:51
Preparing Your Home for the Future
By Jennifer MackInday
Live more confidently in your own home by recognizing and eliminating hidden dangers in your home. At most risk for injury, are the aging. According to the Home Safety Council, slips and falls are the leading cause of home injury death in the United States. Each year, more than 7,000 adults age 65 and older die from unintentional home injuries. Falls alone account for 66% of all home injuries for adults age 65 and older, totaling over 2.3 million accidents per year.
Taking precautionary steps to prevent accidents has been shown to reduce injuries in the aging. In the past, grab bars and other safety features were unsightly and institutional. Now, safety features are available in many models and finishes, to fit any décor. Most can be easily installed by a handyman or relative.
Let's examine a key area for preventing falls and maintaining security, the entrance ways of your home. Check the following items to assess your home's level of safety:
Are the stairs on any of your walkways chipped or broken?
Measure the width of your walkways - would they be wide enough for a wheelchair? (standard wheelchair is 30 inches wide, 48 inches long)
Check all steps inside & out for steep height between risers. You may want to consider replacing steps that are too steep with a ramp, or installing a bypass ramp to your entrance.
Inspect all handrails for stability. You may need to have your handrails reinforced or replaced. Grab bars and handles are perfect near doorways.
Foyers and entrance ways are often tiled and can be slippery. Consider non-slip finishes for these surface areas. A non-slip surface can even be applied to your sidewalk if you use it often went it's wet.
Check your walkway for poor lighting along walkways. Light fixtures are available with sensors that will turn on automatically. Also check walkway edges, entrances, & steps for proper lighting.
Is your garage well lit? Check for poor lighting around and inside the garage. The garage is also a perfect area to install lights with motion sensors.
To avoid tripping, check your threshold. Do you need to add tapered thresholds to outside doors?
Have a delayed action door closer installed on your front door, so the door will close behind you slowly while you enter the home.
Inspect your locks. Replace old locks with new, easier to operate models.
Does your home have round door knobs? Have simple lever-type door handles installed.
Do you have trouble juggling packages, bags and other items while unlocking and opening your door? Try installing elbow height shelving near entrances to hold parcels until the door is unlocked and open.
Transition areas such as front door way thresholds can be tricky to maneuver, especially for the visually impaired. Have your entry way repainted using different colors for the door, door frame, handle & doorbell.
Next month: Part 2 of our series, "Moving Around
Taking precautionary measures now will help you to stay in your home, safe and secure for many years to come. For more information about identifying hazards in your home, visit the Home Safety Council website http://www.homesafetycouncil.org To find an insured, reliable home maintenance professional, visit the Free House Help website http://www.freehousehelp.org, or phone toll free 877.360.7292.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennifer_MackInday
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