Making a home easier to move through, room by room

A home that worked perfectly for years can start to feel like an obstacle course when walking gets harder or a wheelchair or walker comes into the picture. The good news is that most homes do not need a remodel. They need a careful look, a few hours of rearranging and some well-chosen equipment.

The National Institute on Aging suggests that families go through the home room by room to find problems, correct immediate dangers such as loose stair railings and poor lighting first, and then work on other improvements. It also reminds families that not every suggested change may be needed, and that home safety should be reviewed again as needs change. Here is a walk-through to get you started. Bring a tape measure and a notepad, and if you can, bring the person who lives there.

The way in

The entry is often the hardest part of the house. Walk it at the time of day it is used most, and in the dark.

• NIA advises making sure front steps are not broken or uneven, adding non-slip material to outdoor stairways, and considering a grab bar near the front door for balance while locking or unlocking it.
• Keep the porch light on at night, and clear leaves and branches from walks and steps.
• A small lip at the door can trip a walker or stop a wheelchair caster. Harmar lists its rubber threshold ramps for thresholds up to 4 inches high; see the Harmar Rubber Threshold Ramp.
• If several steps lead to the door, browse ramps and door openers or platform lifts.

Halls and doorways

Measure every doorway your loved one needs to pass through, and the narrowest point of each hall. For a public reference point, the ADA 2010 Standards require door openings in covered buildings to provide a clear width of 32 inches minimum, measured with the door open 90 degrees. Homes are not held to that standard, and many interior doors are narrower, so compare your measurements against the overall width of any chair or scooter you are considering.

• NIA recommends light switches at each end of a long hall and suggests motion-activated plug-in lights for pathways.
• Keep cords near the walls and away from walking paths.
• Remove anything stored along the hallway floor.

Living room

This is where people spend hours each day, so small improvements pay off.

• Arrange furniture, especially low coffee tables, so it is not in the walking path, as NIA suggests.
• Check that sofas and chairs are a height that is easy to get in and out of. If standing up from a chair is a struggle, a lift recliner may help.
• NIA advises against throw rugs and small area rugs, and recommends that carpets be fixed firmly to the floor.
• If a wheelchair is in use, think about turning room. The ADA Standards describe a turning space of 60 inches diameter minimum for public buildings, which is a helpful target when you rearrange.

Kitchen

NIA's kitchen tips are simple: keep frequently used pots, pans and utensils where they are easy to reach, and prepare food while seated to prevent fatigue or loss of balance. Move everyday dishes from high shelves down to counter level. A rollator with a tray, such as the Vive Rollator With Cupholder Tray, can help someone carry a plate or a cup from counter to table.

Bedroom

• NIA recommends night lights and light switches close to the bed, a flashlight within reach in case the power goes out, and a well-charged phone near the bed.
• Clear a straight path from the bed to the bathroom.
• If night trips to the bathroom are a worry, a folding commode can sit at the bedside.

Bathroom

NIA advises mounting grab bars near toilets and on both the inside and outside of the tub and shower, putting nonskid mats or strips on surfaces that may get wet, and leaving a light on at night. Browse bathroom safety for grab bars, shower chairs, transfer benches and toilet rails. Vive rates its Metal Grab Bar for 440 pounds and says it can be mounted vertically, horizontally or diagonally. Grab bars must be anchored securely; if you are not sure how, have someone experienced install them.

Stairs inside the home

NIA recommends handrails on both sides of any stairs, good lighting with switches at the top and bottom, and nothing left on the steps. When stairs become too hard even with those changes, a stairlift can keep the whole home in use. We work with a team of credentialed local specialists to guarantee timely, safe, and optimal delivery and installation.

Help paying for changes

NIA notes that many state and local governments have education or home modification programs to help older people prevent falls, and suggests checking with your local health department or the Eldercare Locator to find your local Area Agency on Aging.

Make it a habit

Once the big changes are done, walk the house again in a month. Notice where things have crept back into the path, which light switch is still hard to find, and what your loved one says is still difficult. A home that is easy to move through is never finished; it keeps up with the person who lives there.

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Sources

• National Institute on Aging: Aging in place, growing older at home
• National Institute on Aging: Preventing falls at home, room by room
• Harmar: Rubber threshold ramps
• ADA 2010 Standards for Accessible Design, section 404 Doors, doorways and gates
• ADA 2010 Standards for Accessible Design, section 304 Turning space
• Vive Health: Metal grab bars
• Administration for Community Living: Eldercare Locator