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TIPS AND TRICKS HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR HOME

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Focus on several things when aging in place

Many homeowners plan to stay in their homes over the long term, and some may plan to live independently at home rather than moving into a retirement community, if possible.

Living at home as you age does require advance planning, however. All homeowners wishing to continue living in their home past retirement should plan early for aging in place.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, aging in place is defined as the ability to live in one’s own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably regardless of age, income, or ability level.

While the goal of remaining in one’s own home is shared by many, it isn’t always feasible due to declining health and changes in finances.

Top Four areas to focus on:

Safety updates:

One of the most significant obstacles to remaining in one’s own home is safety. Updates to consider may include a walk-in shower, safety rails, stair lifts, widening doorways, installing non-slip flooring or adding ramps, if a wheelchair is necessary.

Obtaining provisions:

Getting the necessities like healthy food and medications to your home can be an issue over time. Luckily, grocery stores and food-delivery services are growing in popularity, and medical delivery services seem to be developing as well. Certain non-profits offer food delivery services too.

Preparing for emergencies:

While emergencies may be stressful to envision, it’s best to be ready for them before they occur. Living alone can make it difficult to get aid promptly following an accident, but technological innovations can help. Home surveillance cameras and medical alert systems can be a fast and easy way to summon assistance. Establishing a contact, perhaps a family member or friend, to check in on you regularly also could help without the technological investment.

It is important to have access to quality health care and some mode of transportation, too.

Budgeting for expenses:

Making changes to your home and any continuous maintenance or repair work can get expensive, so you will need to examine your financial situation and retirement savings to see what is feasible.

It would also be wise to seek advice from a trusted financial counselor as early as possible.

On a final note, if you are considering any of these changes to your home and need to hire a remodeler, financial counselor, home security company, or any other business or charity, remember it is always important to research the company thoroughly first.

Aging in Place Useful Links

Ultimate Guides

Design Resources

Aging in Place Ideas

Americans with Disabilities Act Resources

General Information

Other Resources

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EIFS, Construction and Building Defects

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Image Credit: AbsolutVision  / Pixabay

 

If you are a first-time home buyer (or even if you’re not) the process of buying a home and evaluating home inspections might seem overwhelming. It can be hard to distinguish which elements of an inspection report should be dealbreakers. It’s also important to consider the resale potential of your new home if it has particular problems; even if you can live with that evidence of long-ago termite damage, another buyer might not want to. Moreover, you will have to consider building codes for any major renovation that you may do.

No matter how much you love the house’s floor plan, paint colors, kitchen, or whirlpool tub, don’t let yourself get so carried away that you ignore potentially serious problems. Buying a home is a major financial decision, and you should treat it as rationally as possible. All the skylights in the world can’t make up for the health hazards that can result from mold, water damage, or structural defects.

Furthermore, some types of problems, such as mold, EIFS-related damage, or flooding, might be excluded from your homeowners insurance policy. You can usually purchase riders to cover mold-related damage, EIFS defects or flooding, but insurance companies charge a premium for these. (EIFS stands for Exterior Insulation Finishing System. It is like stucco or concrete in appearance, but it is actually a lightweight, textured insulating material that is installed as a system. It can be vulnerable to water damage because it can’t release water that gets inside, according to detractors. Others say that water damage results from poor installation, not from the material itself. However, it is highly energy-efficient and low-cost in comparison to the materials it mimics.)

If you are selling your home and you need to correct certain building defects, it is in your interest to take care of it before putting your house on the market. It’s important to highlight the best aspects of your house and to take care of any major problems before potential buyers see it. Be sure to follow local building codes while renovating. You might consider getting it inspected first yourself so that you are aware of what the buyers will see in an inspection report. The more serious problems there are with your house, the more leverage a buyer has for bargaining you down. A good home inspection will reveal any serious problems, as well as a list of small problems that are much easier to fix.

Potentially serious problems that could be dealbreakers include: current or recent evidence of termite infestation, mold (especially black mold) water damage, structural defects, EIFS defects, EIFS water damage, asbestos, radon exposure, or even, should a buyer choose to inspect for it, excessive lead paint (only a potential problem in pre-1980 homes). Some types of mold are toxic and can cause asthma and chronic sinus infections. The more humid the climate is, the greater the risk for mold. Water damage can start small and quickly morph into a major headache. Radon, a naturally occurring gas, can cause lung cancer, as can asbestos. Furthermore, all of these problems can be costly to fix, so many buyers will just walk away.

Please use this site as a resource for finding out more detailed information about these kinds of building defects and the effect they might have on your home’s resale value. Most of all, if you are experiencing problems with any of these issues, don’t despair. Remediation, while expensive, will save you money and trouble in the long run. Look for contractors who have experience solving your particular problem. In some areas (such as asbestos removal) certification is available for qualified contractors. Furthermore, even if you are a competent do-it-yourselfer, these are issues best left for professionals to handle, as they have experience with all aspects of remediation, including cleanup of hazardous materials. A contractor will be able to make sure that all work is done in line with your state’s building codes as well.

Your first step, whether you are buying or selling, is to have a home inspection done by a qualified building inspector as soon as possible so that you can correct any problems that may arise.

 

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By dps_admin Construction • Design • Tips and Tricks 0 Comments

How Important is Light in the Living Room?

Proper lighting is essential for any home. It is important to maintain balance between personality and the functionality of the room when it comes to lighting the living room. One can transform the entire atmosphere of their living room within the proper use of lighting. One should remember that lighting not only has aesthetic and mood enhancing values, but play an important functional role in illuminating important task areas in the living room.

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By dps_admin Do It Yourself 0 Comments

Everyone can paint, including you!

If you are looking to shift to a new house or want to renovate your existing one, the first thing you will need to think about is the painting. While it may be tempting to hire a professional to do it if you have never painted before, it will cost you a lot of money. Painting your own house allows you to experiment with something new and will help you save thousands of dollars.

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By dps_admin Design • Renovation • Tips and Tricks 0 Comments

Make your living room more enjoyable

Proper lighting is essential for any home. It is important to maintain balance between personality and the functionality of the room when it comes to lighting the living room. One can transform the entire atmosphere of their living room within the proper use of lighting. One should remember that lighting not only has aesthetic and mood enhancing values, but play an important functional role in illuminating important task areas in the living room.

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By dps_admin Do It Yourself • Renovation • Tips and Tricks 0 Comments

The do’s and don’ts of home renovations

If you are looking to shift to a new house or want to renovate your existing one, the first thing you will need to think about is the painting. While it may be tempting to hire a professional to do it if you have never painted before, it will cost you a lot of money. Painting your own house allows you to experiment with something new and will help you save thousands of dollars.

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By dps_admin Do It Yourself • Tips and Tricks 0 Comments

Become a master of backyard tiling

Proper lighting is essential for any home. It is important to maintain balance between personality and the functionality of the room when it comes to lighting the living room. One can transform the entire atmosphere of their living room within the proper use of lighting. One should remember that lighting not only has aesthetic and mood enhancing values, but play an important functional role in illuminating important task areas in the living room.

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By dps_admin Renovation • Tips and Tricks 0 Comments

How Important is Light in the Living Room?

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By dps_admin Design • Do It Yourself 0 Comments

Bathroom Remodeling Tips – A Good Bathroom Remodel Can Make Aging at Home for the Elderly a Bit Easier!

Aging in place is almost universally accepted as a good idea because the benefits are so clear. It gives you the freedom and dignity that come from staying in your own home, the ability to make your own decisions, the maintenance of friendships and community ties. In 2014 a study by the American Association of Retired Persons ( AARP) found that among people 65 and older, 87% wanted to age in place.

In a recent study done by Cornell University, more than half of low-needs nursing home residents — an estimated 100,000 people — could instead be living at home if they only had the right support system in place. Having a house that is safe for them to maneuver is one of those criteria. The Bathroom is a prime example of a space that isn’t designed for the elderly.

It is too easy to slip and fall in the shower and if you have a bathtub, you might find that it is difficult for an elderly person to climb inside. Sinks and other fixtures are not convenient for people in wheelchairs and storage can become very inconvenient to people who can no longer bend and twist to look for the things they need.. It is never too soon to start designing a home that accommodates people of all ages and abilities.

Start with the Bathroom

Consumer reports tell us that 235,000 people wind up in the emergency room each year due to injuries that occur while showering, taking a bath, or using the bathroom. Tub and shower bases with slip-free surfaces can eliminate a majority of these injuries. The design of the tub or shower can also come into play…

  1. Wide Doorways – The doorway should be a minimum of 32 inches wide. In older homes, it’s a narrow 24 inches. When the doorway is only 24 inches a walker or wheelchair will not fit through the bathroom door.
  2. Stand Up Showers with a Slip Free Base – If you have a small shower make sure to enlarge it so that there is extra room for seating and a walker.
  3. Curbless Shower with a Bench and Grab Bars – This doesn’t have to look as antiseptic as it sounds. Think in terms of a tiled shower area with recessed shelves at arm’s level to stop you from having to stoop down to the floor or reach up to a shower rack. Add a matching ceramic bench and grab bars that come in brushed nickel, chrome, or bronze to match your faucet hardware. They will look more upscale than the white plastic hospital variety.
  4. Tub with a Door – It would be much easier and safer to access than a conventional tub. Unfortunately, what people fail to realize is that with most walk-in tubs, you have to maneuver very carefully through a narrow door and then get out of the way as the door swings shut. And you still have to climb over a low step. So if you’re walking or flexibility is compromised, this unit won’t be effective.

Toilets and Sinks

Perhaps most important, don’t forget about the toilet. Getting up from a seated position might take some effort, so add a grab bar and consider a taller-than-average model. Many toilet seats are lower than 17 inches from the floor, making it difficult for the elderly to stand up or sit down. If this sounds like your toilet, consider installing a raised toilet seat. Several things you can do to make your bathroom sink more accommodating…

  1. Wall Mounted Sinks – If you are in a wheelchair or need to sit while using the sink install a wall-mounted sink rather than a traditional sink dropped into a vanity. This will give you space underneath the sink for your chair.
  2. Lower Counter Tops – These are perfect for seated people or people in wheelchairs but higher countertops are easier to use if you stand. Maybe create split-level countertops for both options.
  3. The fan should be on a separate switch and preferably on a timer. Fan noise can become very annoying and with the timer, it is possible to turn the fan on and leave the room.

We are generally introduced to the aging process by our grandparents, the details of age-related changes become more apparent as our parents reach 70 and older, and soon we, ourselves are thrown into an intensive course as we personally experience the full cycle of the aging process.

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By dps_admin Construction • General Information 0 Comments

10 Tips for buying new dream house – sticky

If you are looking to shift to a new house or want to renovate your existing one, the first thing you will need to think about is the painting. While it may be tempting to hire a professional to do it if you have never painted before, it will cost you a lot of money. Painting your own house allows you to experiment with something new and will help you save thousands of dollars.

Read more

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