Changes to Entrances and Exits For Senior Home Safety
Before focusing on the interior of your residence, it’s crucial to evaluate the safety and accessibility of your entryways and exits, especially in the context of Aging in Place. In the United States, seniors are subjected to 36 million falls annually, which equates to one fall every second, often due to obstructions found on porches, exterior steps, decks, and driveways.
For those residing in older homes and aiming to Age in Place, the width of entryways and exits can pose significant challenges, potentially not accommodating wheelchairs, walkers, and other essential mobility aids. Such limitations not only heighten the risk of falls but may also deter visits from loved ones, exacerbating the risk of social isolation among seniors.
This overview addresses prevalent safety and accessibility concerns associated with home entryways and exits, offering practical advice to enhance these areas for better Aging in Place.
| Area | Issue & Danger | Suggested Improvements |
|---|---|---|
| Entryway Lighting | Inadequate lighting elevates fall risks. Dimly lit areas can lead to accidents. | Enhance with overhead lighting, motion-sensor fixtures, and prompt bulb replacement. |
| Stairway Safety | Wet or icy stairs, loose handrails, and uneven steps pose tripping and fall hazards. | Clear seasonal hazards, fix or replace unstable handrails, and consider adding ramps for easier access. |
| Driveway Condition | Cracked or uneven driveways can cause trips and slips, especially on loose materials. | Repair cracks, even out surfaces, and replace shifting materials with stable paving. |
| Doorway Accessibility | Too narrow doorways or doors that stick may hinder mobility aid access and increase fall risks. | Widen doorways for easier access, adjust or replace doors for better operation, and remove trip hazards. |
| Porch Stability | Small landings and lack of handrails can compromise safety, leading to potential falls. | Expand landings, install safety handrails, inspect and replace rotten wood or compromised supports. |
Adjustments to Floor Surfaces looking at Aging in Place Design
| Flooring Type | Challenges & Risks | Enhancement Strategies |
|---|---|---|
| Carpet Adjustments | Uneven floor levels, loose or torn carpets pose tripping risks. Curled edges disrupt mobility aid usage. | Install level transitions between rooms. Repair or replace damaged carpets. Secure carpets with traction tape. |
| Tile Surface Management | Wet tiles are slippery. Cracks or loose tiles increase fall risks for those with balance issues. | Apply anti-slip treatments to tiles. Repair or replace damaged tiles to ensure a safe, even surface. |
| Area Rug Safety | Rugs without non-slip backing or with curled edges can lead to trips. Bunched up rugs obstruct smooth transitions. | Ensure rugs have non-slip backing. Flatten edges with traction tape to prevent curling and tripping. |
| Concrete Floor Solutions | Concrete floors with imperfections can cause trips or falls. Slippery when treated without non-slip additives. | Fix concrete imperfections. Apply a non-slip coating to enhance safety and reduce slipperiness. |
Kitchen Accessibility in Independent living in Aging in Place
For aging individuals living with disabilities, navigating the kitchen and preparing meals can become challenging due to various accessibility hurdles. Obstacles such as elevated countertops, slim pantry entrances, towering cabinet shelves, and stoves with knobs that demand significant hand strength to operate can significantly hinder safe kitchen use. In the context of Aging in Place, the following table outlines prevalent issues encountered in kitchen settings and provides guidance on enhancing accessibility for a safer, more inclusive environment.
| Aspect | Issues | Solutions |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinet Accessibility | Difficulty accessing high/low cabinets, handling Lazy Susan or latched cabinets. | Install adjustable shelves, utilize pull-down mechanisms, lower cabinets for wheelchair access, add easy-grip pulls. |
| Stove Usability | Operating stove knobs with limited mobility, viewing pot contents from a wheelchair. | Lower appliance heights, install side-opening ovens and touch-controlled devices, use reflective surfaces to monitor cooking. |
| Pantry Access | Wheelchair-unfriendly pantry doors, high shelves. | Widen doorways, lower shelving, introduce slide-out storage solutions. |
| Electrical Outlet Placement | Outlets placed out of reach. | Re-position outlets for wheelchair access, ensure reachable without stretching. |
| Kitchen Lighting | Insufficient lighting affecting task visibility. | Install under-cabinet lights, use LED strips in dark areas, enhance natural light, repaint in lighter hues for brightness. |
| Counter Design | High counters limit wheelchair users, narrow spaces restrict movement. | Adjust counter height, broaden work areas, introduce movable islands for additional workspace. |
| Sink Adaptations | Difficulty reaching or operating sink controls. | Install rear-drain sinks, single-lever faucets, and organize under-sink areas for easy access |
Exterior Modification in Aging in Place
Enjoying the outdoors offers numerous advantages for older adults, such as reduced stress, enhanced opportunities for physical exercise, and the possibility of higher vitamin D intake. However, for seniors facing mobility challenges, barriers to accessing outdoor spaces can limit these beneficial experiences.
For those hindered by accessibility concerns from relishing in the warmth and freshness of outdoor environments, consider these recommendations for making updates to patios, gardens, and additional exterior spaces.
| Feature | Challenges | Solutions |
|---|---|---|
| Pathways | Uneven or narrow paths hinder mobility device use and pose fall risks. | Utilize wheelchair-friendly materials like poured concrete. Ensure walkways are sufficiently wide for mobility aids, including wheelchairs and oxygen tanks. |
| Outdoor Lighting | Insufficient lighting complicates navigation in outdoor areas for those with mobility aids. | Enhance visibility with solar lighting along paths and decorative lighting in gardens. Install wall-mounted lights near patios. |
| Accessibility Ramps | Obstacles like steps restrict safe access to outdoor spaces for some seniors. | Install permanent or portable ramps to ease access over steps or uneven surfaces in gardens and decks. |
| Safety Handrails | The absence of handrails in outdoor areas can increase fall risks, especially for those with balance or mobility issues. | Add handrails around decks and along pathways to aid mobility and prevent falls, using materials like metal for durability. |