To accommodate the changing needs of older persons, there are many modifications that can be made. Some are simple, such as installing lever door handles. Others are more complex and costly, such as adding ramps or a bathroom to the first floor. Here are just a few ideas to help in your caregiving work:

Door handles and doorways

• Door locks that are easy to operate, keyless locks with a remote control or keypad
• Lever door handles vs. doorknobs
• Doorways 36 inches wide or clear swing hinges to help gain a few inches

Kitchens and laundry

• Easy access to storage; pull-out shelves
• Appliances with controls that are large, easy to read and that have large push pads
• Microwave placed on counter, never above stove
• Side-by-side refrigerator/freezer for easy access
• Good lighting under all work areas, under-cabinet lighting
• Raised dishwasher and over
• Lower kitchen cabinets and adjustable shelves in closets
• Spring-loaded switch for garbage disposal so that it must be held in the on position to operate
• Laundry on main floor, front-loading washer/dryer

Bathrooms

• Anti-scald faucets (called even flow)
• Turn water temperature down to 120 degrees
• Single-lever faucets in sinks, tubs and showers
• Adjustable-height, hand-held showerhead
• Reinforced grab bars in bath and shower (reinforced walls to allow grab bars near the toilet
• Higher toilet seat
• Telephone jack in bathroom and one near bed

Lighting

• Fluorescent lighting to spread light evenly and minimize glare
• Light switches that are easy to reach and that can be turned on before entering the room
• Lighted switch plates
• Well-lit stairways

Equipment

• Phones with large numbers
• Doorbells, smoke alarms and telephones that blink and sound simultaneously giving two cues
• Stereos and TVs where the bass can be turned up and the treble down (people lose the ability to hear higher frequency sounds)

About falls and caregiving. The Home Safety Council, a national non-profit (homesafetycouncil.org) says that falls account for 5.1 million injuries annually. Children and older adults are in the highest risk groups. The Council reports that about 40 percent of caregivers surveyed said their care receiver experienced a fall at home, yet prevention measures were missing from many homes.

• Proper lighting is one of the most important practices, yet only half of the caregivers surveyed said there was lighting at the top and bottom of stairways.
• Less than one of four caregivers said there were handrails on both sides of stairs.
• One in three caregivers said there were no grab bars in the tub or shower
• More than 60 percent of caregivers reported having unsecured throw rugs in the home.

Flooring and stairs

• Sheet vinyl or low-pile carpeting
• No throw rugs
• Eliminate open risers on stairs and stairs that have nosings
• Anti-slip strips on front edges of stairs in a contrasting material
• Sturdy handrails on both sides of stairs
• Eliminate thresholds or minimize them by adding a piece to it so the foot glides over it
• Non-slip bath mats
• Wipe up spills quickly

Some helpful contacts:

• Statewide fix-up fund for remodeling or accessibility loans. Home owners with gross annual income at or below $89,000 (limit may be waived if improvements are made for accessibility of a family member with a disability) are eligibile for an affordable, low-interest loan. Call 651/296-8215, press #3, then #2. Or see www.mhfa.state.mn.us and click on Homeowners, then Home Improvement Loans.
• For more comprehensive home checklists and site planning, download the booklet, “Practical Guide to Universal Home Design” at www.uiowa.edu/infotech/universalhomedesign.pdf.

Information for this article was taken from Twin Cities Senior Housing Guide, Bonnie Clark, director, and the Home Safety Council, Safe Haven for Older Adults program.