At Lowe’s website Livable Home you can see an informative article explaining 10 Ways to Make Your Home Fall-Proof and Hazard-Free. The goal of a more livable home is to design a home that focuses on safety and accessibility. Good home safety and accessibility are very helpful for all people but especially for individuals with disabilities, and for their caregivers. Caregivers include case managers.

The article was written by AARP and provided to Lowe’s for the Livable Home website. As stated in the article, “There are steps you can take for you or a loved one to help avoid injury and support aging-in-place.” These ten ideas shown below are designed to help home occupants, visitors, and caregivers ease the burden of daily challenges for aging-in-place.

1. Remove loose throw or scatter rugs.

2. De-clutter, especially at the floor level.

3. Keep walking paths clear and at least 36 inches wide.

4. Fix uneven walking surfaces, such as door thresholds and steps.

5. If you must have steps, make sure they are as safe as possible.

6. Provide good lighting on walking surfaces and steps.

7. Modify the bathroom for aging-in-place and safety issues.

8. Remove or replace hazardous furniture.

9. Have your vision checked and improved, if necessary.

10. If possible and with Doctor’s permission, get some exercise to keep your weight down and your strength up.

Creating a safer and more accessible home should involve Universal Design (UD). The principles of UD contribute to the convenience and function of products and home spaces by making products and spaces safer, easier to use and, more accessible. The ten ideas above help. For additional information about UD please see Universal Design.

Careful planning is important to creating a safer and more accessible home using UD. A safer and more accessible home should include aging-in-place considerations, such as those shown above.

Universal Design is a key part of aging-in-place home modifications. A Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) is trained in the application of UD for home modifications to help aging and disabled individuals remain in their homes longer. CAPS consultants and UD incorporate the principles of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Housing Act (FHA) into residential home design and modifications.

Richard Acree is a CAPS consultant with many years of experience as a home inspector and accessibility inspector. For more information about aging-in-place services please see Residential Accessibility.

Please call 615-752-0060 or email at inspections4ada@gmail.com for help with aging-in-place home modifications for you or your loved one.

Thank you.

DISCLAIMER: This article is not an endorsement or recommendation to buy or use any product or service offered or provided by Lowe’s, AARP, or any other company or vendor. Consumers and contractors should do their own due diligence to determine what product or service best meets their needs.