Most Americans, and especially the Baby Boomer generation, want to continue to enjoy the freedom and familiarity of living in their own home as long as possible, even as the disabilities of aging begin to accumulate. “Aging in place” is the name most often used for programs and government initiatives that outline ways to make it possible, with recommendations for modifications to make a house more senior-friendly that range from simple safety tweaks to major home improvements.

    A recent report by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University listed the five most important construction features that make a home easier and safer to live in for seniors:

1.  No steps at the entrance
2.  Entire living area on a single floor
3.  Wide doorways and halls for a wheelchair
4.  Electrical switches and receptacles that are reachable from a wheelchair
5.  Lever handles on faucets and doors

      A surprising fact noted in the report is that only 1% of the single-family homes in America have all five of these basic senior-friendly features. Even more surprising is that all of them could be built into any new single family home and be virtually invisible—unlike other safety items for older households like grab bars in the bathroom—but make it easier for  a homeowner to continue to live in their home longer as they age.

     Go to our blog post What are the "Aging In Place" features to look for when buying a retirement home? to learn more. 

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Here’s links to a collection of our blog posts about SAFETY: 

• Why is it important to use "cabinet screws" to mount the upper cabinets in the kitchen?

• Is the door between an attached garage and the house required to have a closer (self-closing device)?

• Can the smoke sensors in a home security/fire alarm system replace the smoke alarms required by the building code?

• Should I get a lightning rod system to protect my house? 

• How do I safely remove a dead rodent (rat, mouse or squirrel) from the attic?

• Does pushing the test button on a smoke alarm test the smoke sensor device inside? 

• Where are smoke alarms required to be located? 

• Are carbon monoxide alarms required to be installed in homes in Florida?

• Are old vinyl tile floors dangerous?  

• How can I use safety checks to limit my tenant liability for a rental house?

• Do you inspect for trip hazards around the home? 

• Why is an anti-tip device now required behind the range? 

• What are the hazards to avoid when going into an attic? 

• What are the warning signs of a dangerous deck?
    Visit our SAFETY page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.