Decide How and When to Undertake Home Modification
The best time to start thinking about home modification to meet the needs of aging is long before the need actually arises. Ideally, people in their fifties and sixties should prepare their homes for later installations while they are doing routine home improvements and repairs. Extra wide doorways that can accommodate a wheelchair can be an attractive feature in any home. Strong supports can be installed behind tile walls when updating bathrooms to later accommodate grab bars.
It is always best to undertake home modification before a crisis occurs so that the work can be carefully planned and budgeted. Before any changes in the home environment are considered, a thorough room-by-room assessment of the surroundings should be made. This should include consideration of the resident's current and future needs, the way in which he/she uses the home and its contents and any barriers that might limit movement or access. A good general safety checklist that can be used for this purpose is available without cost from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in Washington D.C.
Many design publications written by or for professional home designers, architects and construction contractors are available by mail, in bookstores or on the Internet. These provide extensive information including instructions for building ramps and installing grab bars. These publications range in cost from under $10 to more than $80.