By Shannin Prather
January 2017 | 2017 Winter Newsletter
Home is a place of comfort and safety. However, many times our homes are not designed with the special needs required to safely and successfully age in place. Over time, we must honor our changing wants and needs by adjusting our home environment.
As we get older, age affects our vision, mobility, reaction time, and endurance, which may make it difficult to safely perform daily activities. Arthritis or other health issues may lower joint flexibility and strength. Simple tasks (such as opening a jar or buttoning your shirt) may become challenging. This can lead to some very real and practical issues, but with planning and thinking ahead we can make small changes to our homes to increase our
safety, especially with activities such as getting in and out of the house, using the bathroom, and going up and down stairs.
Simple home modifications can help ease some of the difficulties we may experience. Some individuals develop ways to work around problems instead of fixing them. This may not be the best choice, and may even lead to a risk of accidents or injury. Consider which changes are needed for your situation, and write a list. Once you identify the challenges, you can work with professionals to determine a plan for safe options to use at home.
Community resources are available to help. Area Agencies on Aging, including Sourcewise in Santa Clara County, can help you find resources in your community. Organizations specializing in home modifications will assist you with making the changes that allow you to stay safely in your home, and are available for little or no cost to you.
Organizations can assess your home environment and recommend modifications such as: ramps, railings, grab bars, heightened toilet seats, bath chairs, and other products. These items are designed to provide additional safety and stability in your daily activities.
Community Resource Specialists of Sourcewise can provide referrals and information on resources to help you with home modifications, as well as other community resources. To speak with a Community Resource Specialist call the Information and Awareness Department of Sourcewise: (408) 350-3200, option 1.
Home is a place of comfort and safety. However, many times our homes are not designed with the special needs required to safely and successfully age in place. Over time, we must honor our changing wants and needs by adjusting our home environment.
As we get older, age affects our vision, mobility, reaction time, and endurance, which may make it difficult to safely perform daily activities. Arthritis or other health issues may lower joint flexibility and strength. Simple tasks (such as opening a jar or buttoning your shirt) may become challenging. This can lead to some very real and practical issues, but with planning and thinking ahead we can make small changes to our homes to increase our safety, especially with activities such as getting in and out of the house, using the bathroom, and going up and down stairs.
Simple home modifications can help ease some of the difficulties we may experience. Some individuals develop ways to work around problems instead of fixing them. This may not be the best choice, and may even lead to a risk of accidents or injury. Consider which changes are needed for your situation, and write a list. Once you identify the challenges, you can work with professionals to determine a plan for safe options to use at home.
Community resources are available to help. Area Agencies on Aging, including Sourcewise in Santa Clara County, can help you find resources in your community. Organizations specializing in home modifications will assist you with making the changes that allow you to stay safely in your home, and are available for little or no cost to you.
Organizations can assess your home environment and recommend modifications such as: ramps, railings, grab bars, heightened toilet seats, bath chairs, and other products. These items are designed to provide additional safety and stability in your daily activities.
Community Resource Specialists of Sourcewise can provide referrals and information on resources to help you with home modifications, as well as other community resources. To speak with a Community Resource Specialist call the Information and Awareness Department of Sourcewise: (408) 350-3200, option 1.