How to Make a Home Friendly for Senior Citizen Safety

Senior citizen safety is a major concern. Seniors often want to stay in the home they have always lived in. Who can blame them? Their homes are filled with the warmth and memories of their whole lives. Unfortunately, a senior’s home can become an obstacle course over time, making staying in their home difficult, or impossible. Here are a few things that can be done to reduce obstacles and make their home Senior Citizen Safe.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Do SIMPLE FIXES: For Senior citizen safety, install knobs or handles on cabinets that have none. Oil hinges on doors, making them easier to open. If a door is hard to open, because it is sticking, you can plane the top or bottom edges so that the door will swing easy again. Install handrails in the bathroom to prevent falls.

2. PERFORM MORE DRASTIC FIXES: Replace a bath with a shower, or a new bath with an entry door. Install ramps over steps to make entry to the house easier. Install a chair lift for stairs inside the home. All these things make a home more senior citizen safe.

3. PLAN STORAGE AND LAYOUT: Rearrange things for senior citizen safety. Keep items that are used often in lower cabinets within easy reach. Rearrange furniture to make clear paths for ease of moving about the house. Get rid of furniture with legs that protrude and could potentially trip someone, or with sharp edges that could inflict a serious wound if fallen upon.

4. GET HELP: Find assistance for making a home senior citizen safe. If you need help with either the work or the cost of renovations, check with your local senior center, county or state. Many states offer services or grants to help with this type of home renovation. In New York, the Department of Housing and community Renewal will come and evaluate a home, recommend changes that are necessary, and will even pay for the renovations for qualified individuals.