Home Safety, Accessibility, and Modifications
Older Vermonters who want to age in their homes should consider asking an occupational therapist to perform a home safety and accessibility assessment.
Geared toward individuals with limited abilities and mobility, these home reviews look for possible fall risks and make sure the building is accessible and convenient for anyone who has impaired vision, uses a wheelchair, or may be at greater risk of falls or injuring themselves.
Such home evaluations can also be done by a licensed physical therapist, and may be done automatically upon discharge from a hospital or rehabilitation facility. While it’s possible to inspect the home yourself or have a family member do it, bringing in a professional makes sure all the bases are covered.
Home modifications to help you age in place
Taking a proactive approach to modifying your home helps you age in place independently and more safely.
Widen doorways
If you rely on a walker or wheelchair at home, widening doorways is critical. Depending on the insulation and placement of electrical switches and outlets, costs for widening doorways can vary greatly.
Lighting
Adding or using lighting in hallways and stairwells can help prevent falls at night.
Install Ramps
Exterior ramps can make navigating entrances easier and safer. Licensed contractors are trained in building and installing ramps of the correct height and rise.
Indoor threshold ramps may be necessary for older adults who use wheelchairs. These provide smooth transitions from one surface to another and are often made of rubber, so they adjust easily to accommodate thresholds of different heights.
Mobile ramps are easy for a single person to install. Consider adding traction tape to stairs and elevated walking surfaces.
Kitchen modifications
Aging adults may find that their kitchens are harder to navigate, especially from a wheelchair. Professional contractors can adjust the counter height and lower the sink. Microwaves placed on a stand can be easier to reach.
Shower and bathtub modifications
A bathtub can be replaced with a walk-in shower or walk-in tub. Less expensive changes can also help prevent slips and falls, such as adding a safety bar or safety strips on the tub surface.
A bathtub transfer bench straddles the side of the tub, enabling bathers to sit while getting into the tub one leg at a time and reducing the risk of a fall. A bathtub chair, which sits inside the bathtub, is also an option.
Flooring modifications
Shag carpeting and area rugs can be navigational hazards. Consider replacing carpeting with low pile rugs, and remove or securely tape down small rugs on slippery floors.
Adapted from Assisted Living Today
Financial help for home modification
There are four kinds of assistance for home modification: grants, financial loans, labor loans, and equipment loans.
Entities providing assistance for home modifications include:
Medicaid, Medicare, U.S Housing and Urban Development (HUD Improvement Loans), the Veterans Administration (grants), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which offers Rural Repair and Rehabilitation Grants. Several nonprofits and foundations also offer help.
The Vermont Department for Children and Families offers financial help with fuel costs and weatherization. Efficiency Vermont may offer assistance or rebates for upgrading appliances to reduce energy costs or improve efficiency.
SASH (Support and Services at Home)
(802) 863-2224
SASH coordinates the resources of social-service agencies, community health providers, and nonprofit housing groups to support approximately 5,000 older and special-needs Vermonters living at home. Primarily serving Medicare recipients in congregate housing and surrounding communities in every Vermont county, SASH provides service in both rental and privately owned homes.
