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Follow on Google News | Make Aging in Place Easier With a Green HomeA healthy, low-maintenenance home can make it easier for our aging population to stay independent longer.
By: The CareGiver Partnership Natural light When a house is designed to take advantage of natural light, it requires less artificial lighting, offers improved visibility, and saves energy by making temperature control easier. In winter, leave curtains open during the day to let the sun in, then close them at night to hold in the heat. In summer, close curtains during the day to block the sun, then open at night to let any heat escape. When artificial lighting is necessary, make sure it’s bright and within easy reach, with no cords running across pathways. Renewable, recycled materials When building or remodeling, ask your contractor to use materials that are low-maintenance and support our environment for future generations. Examples are wood species that rapidly renew such as bamboo, finishes that are low in volatile organic compounds, and recycled-content materials in carpeting, siding, concrete, decks and fences. Improved mobility Making a home safe and friendly for seniors can include major considerations, like eliminating stairs, expanding doorways, building a first-floor bedroom/bathroom suite, and making sinks, counter and appliances wheelchair-accessible. But there also are smaller projects that can go a long way toward improving mobility and living independently. Try installing levered faucets, easy-grip cabinet and drawer hardware, and nonslip flooring. Since many falls happen in the bathroom, install grab bars in showers and near toilets, bath benches, and elevated toilet seats or safety rails. See options here: http://caregiverpartnership.com/ Energy-efficient upgrades Reduce energy consumption with safe, easy-to-maintain Energy Star appliances, electronics, lighting and windows. Conserve water by replacing old shower heads and faucets with low-flow fixtures. Ask your electric and gas provider if you qualify for an energy audit, rebates or other programs to help offset the cost of upgrades. Monitoring and safety Many of us, who have been fortunate to age in place safely, have technology to thank. Without the latest in safety devices, we wouldn’t have the peace of mind that is the cornerstone of aging in place. Consider a phone made for seniors, with amplification, big buttons and talking caller ID; emergency products like Guardian Alert 911, for 24/7 remote access to 911; smoke detectors with strobe lights for the hard-of-hearing; Easy-care landscaping An important part of aging in place is making caring for a home more manageable. Cut down on grass that needs mowing by making your yard more natural, with low-maintenance native plants and trees, which also provide shade that can cut cooling costs. Driveways and walkways made of gravel, pavers or other permeable systems not only allow rain water to reach the ground, but they can offer seniors a safer, less-slippery walking surface if well maintained. For more articles on aging in place, see our blog: http://blog.caregiverpartnership.com/ Sources: AgingInPlace.com: # # # About The CareGiver Partnership. The CareGiver Partnership helps caregivers and their loved ones with answers to their caregiving questions, including information about home health care products and supplies, from our Wisconsin-based team of Product Specialists who are all current or former caregivers. The company’s Web site provides the largest online library of resources on subjects most important to caregivers — from arthritis to assisted living, and Parkinson’s to prostate cancer — as well as access to more than 3,000 home care products for incontinence, skin care, mobility, home safety and daily living aids. The CareGiver Partnership was founded in 2004 by Lynn Wilson of Neenah, Wis. Visit http://www.caregiverpartnership.com to learn more or call 1-800-985-1353. End
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