Making your home safe does not have to be expensive

include replacing the old bath mat and replacing it with a new one with fresh rubber backing. Textured decals for the bath floor reduce slipping. Properly installing grab bars in strategic places helps to provide balance.

Don’t fall

By Susie Landsem

Are you starting out the new year with resolutions and goals to be more organized? As early in the year as possible is a great time to start preparing your home for safety by cleaning out closets and storage areas and reorganizing what’s left.

Reducing clutter in your home has a big impact on its safety. Here are a few inexpensive suggestions to start.

Avoid slipping

A sobering fact is that falls are the leading cause of injury and injury death for seniors over 65. The bathroom is one of the busiest rooms in the house and a common area for falls to happen.

Slippery floors from the shower are hazardous. Small bath rugs can be easy to trip over. Inexpensive solutions

Stacks of books, piles of paper, pet toys and loose cords on the floor are tripping dangers. Getting things off the floor and into baskets, bins, or thrown out will make the house tidy and reduces the chances of falling.

Loose cords from the television, computers and floor lamps can be hazardous. Make sure that they are out of traffic areas.

Good lighting

Have you checked your lightbulbs lately? Bright lights are important for tasks and hobbies like cooking, reading and working on the latest Sudoku puzzle.

Make sure your bulbs are fresh and the lighting is positioned over the work area for the best visibility. Don’t fumble for the light switch anymore by adding lighted or motion sensor light switches.

Adding motion sensor lights to stairs, closets and hallways helps navigate the midnight trips to the bathroom and kitchen safely. Under counter lights in the kitchen makes preparing food easier and safe.

House address and lighting

Is your address on the street visible and easy to read? Is there a light over your front door? In case of an accident, emergency services will be looking for your home - make sure they can find it easily.

Staying at home after retirement is the plan for many of us. It’s essential to keep it safe for you, your family, and your friends.

Use these tips to find inexpensive solutions that will improve your home by minimizing tripping and slipping hazards, providing good lighting and making sure your house can be found by emergency services.

Aging in place by design is creating and implementing, a plan that will add safety improvements to your home for lasting independence and comfort.

-- Susie Landsem is a Certified Aging in Place Specialist. Aging in Place is a lifestyle choice of staying in your home safely, comfortably and independently – for as long as possible. It describes how you want to live today and in the future. Aging in place by design is creating a plan for using building solutions and design elements to add safety improvements to your home for lasting independence and comfort.