Home Is Where the Heart Is: Tips for Aging in Place

Aging in place allows you or your loved ones to continue living a full life in the home of your choice. It’s not just about getting older — it is about being prepared for the changes in your life that occur as you age. If staying in your home is important to you, you may still have concerns about safety, getting around, or other activities of daily life, and rightly so.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are 36 million falls reported among older adults each year, resulting in more than 32,000 deaths. Each year, about 3 million older adults are treated in emergency departments for a fall injury. One out of every five falls causes an injury, such as broken bones or a head injury.

“You can make some simple, fairly inexpensive changes in your home that can help prevent you from becoming one of these statistics,” says Richard Craner, OTR/L, with Beaufort Memorial Outpatient Rehabilitation. “Start with reviewing each room of your house for potential safety hazards.”

Read More: A Primer on Preventing Bone and Joint Problems

Craner recommends asking yourself these questions:

Lighting

• Is there plenty of light in every room?
• Are stairways and hallways well lit?
• Are there nightlights in the bedrooms, bathrooms and hallways?

Flooring

• Are all rugs (including bathroom rugs) tacked down or secured with nonskid pad? Are throw rugs removed?
• Are door thresholds less than a half-inch thick?

Stairways/Ramp

• Are there handrails on both sides of the stairways, outside steps and along any ramps leading up to your home?
• Are there nonskid treads on the stairs and ramp?
• Are all boards and railings secured and sturdy?

Furniture and Appliances

• Have you arranged furniture so it doesn’t block walking areas?
• Are your bed, couches and chairs at a good height so you can easily stand up and sit down?
• Are bedspreads and furniture coverings secured or tucked in (not hanging onto the floor) so you will not trip?
• Are all electrical cords out of the way?

Kitchen

• Are often-used items easy to reach?
• Have you developed a safe system for storing items, for example, placing only light items on high shelves and keeping heavy items at waist height?

Read More: Aging with Arthritis

Bathroom

• Do you have a raised toilet seat or railing for safe transition on and off the toilet?
• Are there nonslip bath strips or rubber mats in the tub or shower?
• Do you have a shower chair or bath bench and a shower curtain? Sliding doors can be removed temporarily and replaced with a curtain on a spring bar.
• Do you have a handheld showerhead to bring the water to you while bathing in a sitting position?
• Is bar soap replaced by easier-to-hold liquid soap in plastic bottles?

Bedroom

• Is there room for a bedside commode?
• Do you have a shoe rack so you don’t have to bend down to reach shoes on the floor?
• Are your closets arranged to place clothing at a lower level to allow easy access? Lower the closet rod to three feet off the ground if necessary.

Miscellaneous

• Are all doors easy to open and close?
• Are all drawers easy to open and close?
• Are all smoke detectors working properly with batteries recently checked?
• Is the water heater temperature lowered to 120 F to avoid burns?

It’s also very important to have a cellphone with you at all times.

Craner emphasizes that “planning ahead, using these strategies, and having the equipment you need is one of the best ways to continue to have the lifestyle you desire, and to safely remain in your home of choice for many years to come!”

Beaufort Memorial occupational therapists can help you develop the skills you need to age in place. Call 843-522-5593 to learn more.