AGE PROOFING YOUR HOME / BMI = BOGUS? / AGEISM / BE A CORNHOLE CHAMP
AGE PROOFING YOUR HOME
Many older folk are committed to staying in their home until the bitter end.
“The only way I’m leaving my house is when they carry me out” Says a close relative.
It is a doable plan for many, but if that’s what you’re thinking, it’s a good idea to look at your home to see if it will be safe for you as you age. Being fit and healthy allows us to stay in our 3 level townhouse, for now. Thinking ahead 15 years, will it make sense to carry laundry up or down two flights of stairs? Not sure, but it is something we talk about.
It’s Easy To Be Overconfident
It’s easy to be over confident as we get older. “I won’t fall” are famous last words. As we get beyond 65, the risks of a fall increases and the impact of those falls grows. Many people start their demise with a hip fracture caused by an avoidable fall. Whether it's for you or an older family member, if the intent is to age in place, and you’re 65 or older, you should consider taking steps now that will reduce the fall risks that may exist in the home.
There are steps you can take to make your home safe as we get on in years, some sooner than later. Now’s the time to make your plans and do what you can while you are capable. Here is a list of suggested upgrades to your home if you are planning on staying there until you are older than dirt:
Easy & Low Cost:
Install non-slip strips in your tub and shower - Done.
Replace your toilet seat with a raised seat.
Get rid of loose throw rugs.
Install a shower seat.
Declutter the living spaces. Reduce the amount of furniture and obstacles in your rooms.
Make sure there’s enough room to move around furniture so you don’t trip and fall. Think three feet of clearance.
Add grab bars in your tub and showers. Also at doorways with steps. We installed them in our bath tub and at the door going into our garage.
Add stair treads or a carpet runner on hardwood stairs.
Look for dark areas that could be made safer by adding lights, in case you’ve misplaced your glasses, again.
Use motion sensing light switches and night-lights. It’s easy to lose your bearings when you get out of bed in the middle of the night to visit “La Porcelain”.
Make sure electrical cords are out of the way.
Change out all door knobs with lever handles.
Secure free standing furniture that could easily tip over if grabbed when you stumble, like book shelves and wall units.
Not-So-Easy & More Costly:
Relocate everything to the first floor, including laundry. Turn a spare bedroom into a walk-in closet, laundry room.
Install entrance railings at your exterior doors.
Convert the bathtub to a walk-in tub. You can’t miss the commercials on TV.
Raise a couple strategic electrical outlets to more convenient heights for frequent use like the vacuum.
Provide lower level storage areas for heavier items, like slow cookers or air fryers. But not too low. Waist height would be ideal for the heavier pieces.
Consider a lift chair.
Also consider a stair lift. The grandkids will love it.
Other Considerations
Will you be in a position to hire out the chores you’re doing now but may not be able to do if something happens to you or your partner?
Lawn care
Snow and ice removal
Trash
Basic house cleaning
Food delivery
Changing light bulbs or smoke detector batteries
Is it easy to get to and from your house and get to places like the doctor, dentist, or grocery store? Will you be able to handle the drive in 10 years?
It’s never too late to start planning your aging in place home. As you go about your day be thinking “What will this be like when I’m 80?”
A Bit Of Humor
Health And Wellness
Is Your BMI A Bogus Number?
Body Mass Index (BMI) is used as one of the important standards of your overall health. But is it? Here’s an article that may help you understand it better:
Is BMI An Accurate Measure Of Your Health.
News And Scoops
Ageism Is Real
A couple weeks ago I published a post about “Unretirement” Here's The Link. One of the biggest challenges to un-retiring, is being confronted with ageism. Unfortunately, some employers look at older folk as risks, and ignore the benefits of dependability, knowledge and lower stress.
Don’t Contribute To Your Own Agism
How To Spot An Employer Who Respects Us Older Folk
Fun And Frivolity
Be A Cornhole Champ
There’s still a bit of summer left and the fall festival season is around the corner. You still have time to become the local master of cornhole and be the envy of 2 or 3 people. Here’s the guide you’ve been looking for.
A Quote To Chew On
“If you run into a jerk in the morning, you ran into an jerk. If you run into jerks all day long, you’re the jerk.” Raylan Givens on the show Justified