House Tips

	Checklist for the entire house Checklist for stairs in particular

Things to help your senior live in her own home.

• Overall
  In General | Floors & Hallways | Lighting & Electrical | Telephone | Checklist
• Kitchen
  In General | Storage | Lighting & Electrical | Oven & Stove
• Bathroom
  In General | Add Color | Shower & Tub | Lighting & Electrical
• Bedroom
• Stairs
  In General | Visibility | Steps | Handrails | Checklist

Modifications to the house that work well:

• increase the usability of the home by people of all ages, sizes, and abilities.
• enhance the ability of all residents to live independently in their own homes for as long as possible.
• improve quality of life.
• and make caregiving easier.

Links to other sites with information on this topic:

The National Resource Center on Supportive Housing and Home Modification is a university-based, non-profit organization that promotes aging in place and independent living for persons of all ages and abilities. Their Safety Checklist and Assessment Instrument includes a variety of "Resources for Safety Assessment of the Home."

AARP's Universal Design Home Modification website talks about the changes you can make to a home to increase its usability by people of all ages, sizes, and abilities—and enhance the ability of all residents to live independently in their own homes for as long as possible.

Home Modifications and Products for Safety and Ease of Use, a booklet written by North Carolina State University's Center for Universal Design, suggests numerous modifications and products that can help when one’s abilities or physical conditions change. The booklet describes likely issues (Hearing, Vision, Sense of Smell, Sense of Touch and Dexterity, Strength and Range of Motion, Mobility and Agility, Balance and Coordination, Cognition), discusses implications for home activities, and suggests modifications.

The Consumer's Guide to Home Adaptation, published and created by the Adaptive Environments Center, 374 Congress Street, Suite 301, Boston, MA 02210.