How well is your current home designed to keep you safe as you age? As a person ages, their accessibility changes. What used to seem simple can suddenly become a chore. But there are ways to change your current design, and make things easier now and as you age. Take a look at this home design checklist–how many questions can you answer with a yes?
Storage
- I can reach things in my closets, even from a sitting position.
- My clothing rods are all located between 20 to 44 inches from the floor.
- I have a closet organization system to make things more accessible.
- I clean my closet regularly to keep the most used items in easy reach.
- My lower drawers are deep and open all the way. Upper drawers are shallow.
- I have adequate light in my closets.
- Light switches are easy to reach.
- The door to the closet is at least 32 inches wide.
Electrical
- Electrical outlets are at least 27 inches from the floor.
- All rooms can be adequately lit by using a switch as you enter a room.
- All rooms have an ample number of outlets, and I rarely need to use extension cords.
- I have enough light in each room, either through natural or electric light, to live normally.
- Hallways, walkways and pathways are all well lit.
- I have automatic lights to welcome me as I come home, and to allow me to get safely into my home.
Safety
- I have a smoke detector on each floor.
- I have a smoke detector in each bedroom.
- I have at least one battery-operated detector that isn’t dependent on electricity.
- All smoke detectors are located on the ceiling.
- I test my smoke detector regularly, and replace the batteries on a regular schedule.
- I have a carbon monoxide detector on each floor.
- I test my carbon monoxide detector on a regular basis.
- I keep a fire extinguisher on each floor of my home, and make them easy to access.
The more yeses, the safer your current living arrangements are. Even a few no’s leave room for improvement. When you are ready for a home redesign, don’t just plan on the comforts of home, plan for safety too.
