Stay-at-Home Solutions for Seniors
By Bogert, Samantha; Rehab Management,Publication Date: March 2008
Article discusses accessibility modifications for seniors or people with disabilities who wish to remain living at home. The author is a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS), a profession created by the National Association of Home Builders in collaboration with the AARP to satisfy the growing need for universal home accessibility. Focus is on making a home accessible for an older person with cognitive decline. Recommendations include installing sensor-monitoring systems and exit-door alarms for monitoring activity, simplifying the indoor environment by removing distracting objects, and marking steps and glass doors to avoid injury. A case study is included of a client with ALS whose ability to ambulate was declining. Modifications to his home included a widened hallway and rearrangement of furniture, and replacement of the bathtub and vanity with a roll-in shower and wall-hung sink, to accommodate his wheelchair. Additional recommendations include moving light switches and electrical outlets to be reachable by a person in a wheelchair, and fitting doors and cabinets with lever-style hardware for easy opening.
Published by: Ascend Media LLC (Website:http://www.ascendmedia.com)
Link to text: http://www.rehabpub.com/issues/articles/2008-03_03.asp
