Is Mom's Home Ready For Winter?

Holiday Season Can Be an Excellent Time to Assess a Senior's Home 

As the holiday season approaches, families should set aside time to discuss livability issues and determine what steps, if any, should be taken to improve a senior loved one's home environment in preparation for winter.
 
Older homeowners, for instance, are perhaps the least likely to take on a "home modification" project. Yet they are the ones who could most benefit from upgrades and improvements that can make a home more energy-efficient and free of the physical barriers that cause injuries and falls.

"People of all ages value their ability to live independently. But without a plan for aging in place, it can be hard to stay in control of your life," said Peter Bell, President of the U.S. National Aging in Place Council (NAIPC). "Knowing your health risks and financial options can make a big difference in your ability to stay in a familiar place."
 
Besides home modifications, family members should assess whether a parent needs outside assistance with financial planning and budgeting, in-home healthcare and chore services, transportation and meal services, or supplemental income from a reverse mortgage. The NAIPC's website features A Guide to Aging in Place, with online information about home modifications and innovative adaptive devices.
 
This material is adapted from the U.S. National Aging In Place Council, which serves as an ongoing forum for professionals from the private, public and non-profit sectors and businesses to work together to promote aging in place. Coalition members include skilled persons from a wide variety of fields, including remodeling, architecture, interior design, financing, elder law, product design and manufacturing, urban planning, social services, health, and others.

To learn more about home safety for seniors…

The Public Health Agency of Canada offers the online booklet The Safe Living Guide: A Guide to Home Safety for Seniors, which offers suggestions for making your loved one’s home a safer, more environment for healthy aging.