Home Modifications, Repairs, & Accessibility Issues
According to a recent AARP housing survey, “83% of older Americans want to stay in their current homes for the rest of their lives,” but other studies show that most homes are not designed to accommodate the needs of people over age 65. A house that was perfectly suitable for a senior at age 55, for example, may have too many stairs or slippery surfaces for a person who is 70 or 80. Research by the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that home modifications and repairs may prevent 30% to 50% of all home accidents among seniors, including falls that take place in these older homes.
Before you make home modifications, you should evaluate your current and future needs by going through your home room by room and answering a series of questions to highlight where changes might be made. You can begin your survey by examining each area of your home and asking the following questions:
Appliances, Kitchen, Bathroom
- Are cabinet doorknobs easy to use?
- Are stove controls easy to use and clearly marked?
- Are faucets easy to use?
- Are all appliances and utensils conveniently and safely located?
- Can the oven and refrigerator be opened easily?
- Can you sit down while working?
- Can you get into and out of the bathtub or shower easily?
- Is the kitchen counter height and depth comfortable for you?
- Is the water temperature regulated to prevent scalding or burning?
- Would you benefit from having convenience items, such as a handheld showerhead, a garbage disposal, or a trash compactor?
Closets, Storage Spaces
- Are your closets and storage areas conveniently located?
- Are your closet shelves too high? Can you reach items easily?
- Do you have enough storage space?
- Have you gotten the maximum use out of the storage space you have, including saving space with closet shelf systems and other products?
Doors, Windows
- Are your doors and windows easy to open and close?
- Are your door locks sturdy and easy to operate?
- Are your doors wide enough to accommodate a walker or wheelchair?
- Do your doors have peepholes or viewing panels? If so, are they set at the correctheight for you to use?
- Is there a step up or down at the entrance to your home? If so, is the door threshold too high or low for you to get in or out easily?
- Is there enough space for you to move around while opening or closing your doors?
Driveway, Garage
- Does your garage door have an automatic opener?
- Is your parking space always available?
- Is your parking space close to the entrance of your home?
Electrical Outlets, Switches, Safety Devices
- Are light or power switches easy to turn on and off?
- Are electrical outlets within reach and properly grounded to prevent shocks?
- Are your extension cords in good condition?
- Can you hear the doorbell in every part of the house?
- Do you have smoke detectors throughout your home?
- Do you have an alarm system?
- Is the telephone readily available for emergencies?
- Would you benefit from having an assistive device to make it easier to hear and talk on the telephone?
Floors
- Are all of the floors in your home on the same level?
- Are all floor surfaces safe and covered with non-slip or non-skid materials?
- Do you have scatter rugs or doormats that could be hazardous?
Hallways, Steps, Stairways
- Do all of your hallways and stairs have smooth, safe surfaces?
- Do your stairs have steps that are big enough for your whole foot?
- Do you have handrails on both sides of the stairway?
- Are your stair rails wide enough for you to grasp them securely?
- Would you benefit from building a ramp to replace the stairs or steps inside or outside of your home?
Lighting, Ventilation
- Do you have night-lights where they are needed?
- Is the lighting in each room sufficient for the use of the room?
- Is the lighting bright enough to ensure safety?
- Is each room well ventilated with good air circulation?
Once you have explored all the areas of your home that could benefit from remodeling, you might make a list of potential problems and possible solutions.
Many minor home modifications and repairs can be done for about $150-$2,000. For bigger projects, some financing options may be available.
Seniors may also choose to bypass public assistance programs and hire a contractor to do their home modifications or even do the job by him or herself. Keep in mind these points if you want to have a professional contractor come into your home to work on a large project:
Ask for a written agreement that includes only a small down payment and specifies exactly what work will be done and how much it will cost (with the balance of payment to be made when the job is finished).
Check with your local Better Business Bureau and Chamber of Commerce to see if any complaints have been filed against the contractor. Make sure that the contractor has insurance and is licensed to do the work required.
Talk with your family and friends to get recommendations based on their experiences with the contractors they have hired. This step may actually be the most important one; because contractors with a good reputation can usually be counted on to do a good job.