Living with Older Parents - Home Modifications - Safety First
	They say getting old is not for sissies. Getting up and down is not so easy anymore. Bending over to pick things up and climbing onto step stools to reach objects can be treacherous. The day-to-day actions that you take for granted can result in an injury for your parent. One-third to one-half of home accidents can be prevented by modification and repair. Safety is always the first priority.
	Some general helpful tips - Store frequently used items at heights between waist and eye-level. Consider a lift chair instead of an easy-chair. Do not use furniture with casters. Furniture should not move when leaned on. Add riders to furniture and beds to make them higher if need be. An aerobic step with non-skid can make getting in and out of bed easier.
	Bathrooms - Bath tubs are hard to climb into and are slippery. If you have an existing bathroom with a tub, consider a tub lift to ease your parent in and out of the bath. They are powered by water and can be used by the bather independently. See our Marketplace for purchasing opportunities. If you don't get a tub lift, you may choose a shower bench. An adjustable shower head on a hose will also make bathing easier while seated. Some even have built-in scald control. Standard toilets are too low for most older adults. You can either install a new higher toilet, or you can add a layer onto the toilet to make the seat higher. Grab bars can make transitions easier. Non-slip mats on the floors and in the tub are good for safety, as long as they are well secured and can't curl up to cause a trip hazard. Roll-in showers are great if there is a possibility that a wheelchair might be used. You can purchase a preformed shower pan that drains drain away from the rest of the shower floor. Use a weighted shower curtain to shield the rest of the bathroom from the water or have the shower far enough away that water doesn't spray out. Glass shower doors are dangerous. A wall-mount sink can have room to roll under it. Use insulation around the hot water pipe and drain to prevent burns. Turn the hot water heater temperature down to prevent scalding. Use a bathroom door that has a lock that can be opened from the outside in an emergency.
	Stairways - Make sure stairs and landings are well-lit and that hand rails are secure. Installing another hand rail on the other side of the stairs can make it easier to climb the stairs. Use non-slip flooring on stairs. Never leave items on the stairs where they can be a trip hazard. When stairs become too difficult, people count every step until they make it safely to the top and then bump back down them on your bottom for fear of falling. A stair lift is a realtively inexpensive way to make the stairs safe again. Vertical lifts and elevators will also bring the dignity back to getting up and down stairs. In most states, you can install your own stair lift on straight stairs. We have an easy to install straight stair lift available in our Marketplace. If you have curved stairs, there are stairway lifts that can travel around curves and corners. Inclined Lifts, Vertical Lifts and Elevators also allow room for a wheelchair. You will need to consult a local accessibility dealer for more information and pricing on the more high-tech products. We have included info if you are in the Atlanta or Chattanooga areas and need a Home Elevator Dealer or if you live elsewhere, check out our Resources section to see if we have a listing on a dealer in your area.
	Kitchen - Keep fire extinguishers within easy reach. If you are installing a new dishwasher, raise it up, or install a drawer type dishwasher that doesn't require bending down. In a second kitche, a single drawer will probably be adequate. Get a cooktop and separate wall oven instead of a range. Install the oven at a height that is easy to reach into without bending down, but still accessible from a wheelchair. Make sure there is no clutter around the cooking area. Buy an electric can opener and a lid opener. Side-by-side refrigerators are easier to reach into than the style with the freezer drawer at the bottom or the top. There are some cabinets designed for easy access: KraftMaid's Passport Series of universal design cabinetry or Merillat's Universal Access cabinets. Both lines are only 32.5 inches tall. Use pull-out trays in cabinets instead of fixed shelves. For a wheelchair user, make the space under the sink roll-under. Cabinets can be built to provide the look of a closed-in cabinet but with doors that open to allow a wheelchair to roll in. The toe-kick is attached to the doors so that when opened, the space is cleared. If you don't provide full access to existing cabinets and countertops, consider adding a lower 30" high island that can be used by a wheelchair user or a person sitting in a standard height chair.
	Parents in the House.net
	Your Resource and Survival Guide for living happily ever after with your aging older parents

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