Helping aging parents stay safe at home

Serious injuries from falling are an occupational hazard for many older persons. The National Institute for Health and the CDC say that more than one in three people age 65 or older will suffer from a fall in the next 12 months.

Aging in place (CAPS) is a program created by the  American Association of Retired Persons and the National Association of Builders, to creatively adapt homes for the fast-growing senior population. The AARP states that nearly 90 percent of seniors prefer to stay in their homes as they age, and in addition, it is less expensive than moving into an assisted living facility.

Upgrading seniors’ homes with amenities recommended by the CAPS program will make your parents home safer and give you peace of mind.

Forbes.com’s December 9 issue covers the topic of aging-in-place, with practical advice on basic modifications to the home such as adding railings on both sides of stairs and installing lever handles on doors, to how to find a qualified local contractor who is trained and experienced in CAPS remodeling.

Aging-in-place is not for the bathroom only; there are modifications that can be made to the kitchen, the entrance to the home, and even the hallways and doors.

DyLon McClary, the owner of Rose Construction, Inc., has earned the Certified Aging in Place Specialist certification and has many years experience remodeling homes in the Whatcom, Skagit and Island counties area of Washington. Check us out at NAHB and our website: Rose Construction Inc.