Livingston Reporting - page 345

My parents are aging.  We are aware that since we are the closest family to them that as they age they will want to age in place with us.  With that is mind we are starting to take care in remodeling the house.  There are many contractors that offer age in place remodeling for this purpose alone.  I contacted a local contractor who put me in touch with a specialty contractor for aging in place remodeling and we were on our way.

One of the first changes we did before the contractor was hired was simple.  We needed a new refrigerator so when we were shopping for one we decided it would be best to find a model with the freezer on bottom.  We also went ahead and started to stock up on plastic plates and cups to avoid glass breakage should anything be dropped.  I know it would be too hard for one of them to clean it up and if we weren’t home it would leave room for injury.

We hired the contractor to come in when the bathroom age in place remodeling needed to be done.  It was decided that the safest bathing method would be a roomy walk in shower with a seating area.   The contractor showed us several designs and we agreed on one that would provide everything that was needed and alleviate any need to bend.  The toilet we decided to install a high rise style.  This would alleviate the need for a removable toilet seat.  I felt it would offer a bit more dignity to the area for them also.

The contractor was able to give us some advice after spending time in our home doing the age in place bathroom remodel.  He mentioned that we needed to eliminate all of the random throw rugs we had scattered throughout the house.  He told us if there were ones that we wanted to keep down it wasn’t the safest option but we could use double sided tape to tack the rugs down.

The one thing I wanted to keep in mind with this transition is our family’s needs for space and my parents need for autonomy.  They found ways to do the things that they could still do and were able to ask for solutions to do the things that were hard.  My parents needed me to wash their clothes but wanted me to let them fold and put them away.  The washer and dryer live in the basement and the stairs pose to big of a risk for them.  I still let the kids live life and have friends over, as did my spouse and I.  Instead of excluding them though we invited them in to our social circle and welcomed them.  Making them feel a part of our lives instead of an unwelcomed addition made life easier for all of us.

I hired the contractor to come back out when my mom started to use her walker more frequently.  It was a must to have a wheelchair ramp installed.  The handicap ramp was also helpful to my father as his knees were starting to ache on the decent from the house.

It is important that as our parent’s age and want to age in place instead of moving into assisted living that we create an environment as safe as possible for them.  We need to make the time they have here mean something.  It is necessary to make the little changes that help their bodies keep up with the spirit that still lives inside.  My parent’s bodies may be aging but they are both sharp and still wanting to be a part of life.  My goal as they age in our home is to facilitate that.

Hiring someone to come out to your home and fix your home should not be a hassle.  When you call a handyman to come out and perform handyman services you expect they show up when they say they will, do what they say they will do and return your calls when you have questions before or after the work is done.  It is important that you realize when you are hiring a handyman his services are mostly general maintenance projects and not full blown renovations.  If you are looking for someone to redo the whole bathroom you will call a contractor who specializes in bathroom remodeling.  If you are looking to have the faucet replaced you call on a handyman’s services.

To define further just what a handyman services covers I could end up in over my head regarding the definition.  An individual that offers a talent for general home repairs and maintenance for a sum of money is a handyman.  I know not too descriptive.  If I list out every talent that a handyman can posses I would be writing a novel.  Basically you will need to define your needs and find a handyman to meet them and most likely anyone calling themselves a handyman can handle the job.

There are a few rules to follow when hiring a handyman to help with the honey do list around your house.  The number one rule you need to follow is to have a clear idea of what you need and want.  This requires you making a list of what needs to be accomplished.  This way the handyman services can be quoted out and you can be sure you are getting what you paid for and that the handyman is also being compensated fairly.  Don’t start throwing other jobs into the mix after you have already agreed upon a fair compensation.  This is not how handyman services work.

In finding a handyman you should follow the second rule which is prospect handymen. This can include looking in local classified, the internet and word of mouth from friends and neighbors who have recently had work done.  Referrals are the best way to find someone who can be trusted and will complete a job in a timely manner for a fair rate.  Also check references and look at previous work that the individual has completed.  You can get a lot of information from meeting with someone to discuss the job.  If you gut instinct questions it at all you should continue researching handyman services.

When hiring an individual you must ask questions this is rule number three.  I am sure you wondering what type of things you should inquire about.  You must start by asking for references.  Don’t just stop there actually check them out.  Question them about the licenses they hold.  Make sure they are insured so that the work they do on your home is insured also.  If the handyman gets hurt at your home you want to make sure their insurance will cover them.  Find out how they charge.  Do they give free estimates? Do they charge per job, by hour or by half hour?  It should also be standard to check to see if consumer complaints exist against the handyman.

It is important with any service to look into all aspects of the job.  Hiring handyman services is something that requires a bit of work upfront but as you continue to need work on your home done will pay off.  Once you find someone reliable that does work you are happy with at a reasonable price point you are set.  Getting there may take some research and time but the work that you have done will be well worth it.

Have you given thought about what types of needs you will have as you age? Do you plan on staying in your own home, often referred to as aging in place, or do you plan on living the good life in a senior living complex? Many people want to keep their independence for as long as possible. This gets trickier if you live in a home with any type of obstacle. Age in place remodeling helps conquer many of those problems that creep up on us as our bodies start to not respond the way they did in the past. We will look into several items that will help you or your loved ones age in place helping to keep independence in the lives of loved ones as long as possible.

First, a huge obstacle many older people or people with knee issues face, getting up and down the stairs. Many homes have basements nowadays. Washers and dryers are often kept on this level. I know in my Uncles case he has both his wood working area and his hunting workshop set up in the basement. It is important to still access these areas even if our knees and hips don’t allow for it anymore. Stair lifts have been invented for this purpose. A lift is practical and can be installed on any type of stairs. Search out a local contractor in your area that is licensed and works with companies to meet the physical challenges of their clients.

Next people are often concerned with ease of access into and out of the home. It is becoming very common to install ramps for handicapped access. Handicap ramps can really help seniors who wish to age in place by eliminating the strain that stairs often bring getting in and out of the home. Ramps can be made to blend naturally into the design of the home and can often be made for temporary or permanent use. Materials for ramps vary also. It is common to use metal or wood for ramps. Make sure when hiring an age in place remodeler to build a wheel chair ramp that you make sure they are following ADA guidelines. The Americans with Disabilities Act clearly lays out guidelines and specifications for handicap ramps.

Smaller home renovations such as bathroom grab bars, changing out door knobs for handles and tub modifications are all items to think about when preparing for those later years. As my dad aged we found it necessary to begin making the minor changes around the home for him. As he grumbled we started to rearrange things in his home to make it safer and more convenient for him to access those things he used on a daily basis. Even though he is only in his late sixties it was necessary to install grab bars in his shower and by the toilet more for convenience right now than necessity. With aging knees it is often difficult for him to raise himself up without extra support.

If you begin as you see the need arise it can make that transition of aging in place less of a strain then if all of a sudden one day the realization hits that self sufficiency is deteriorating. Age in place remodeling is a common practice these days. Even with the beautiful senior living facilities people want to stay in the comfort of their own homes for as long as possible. Aging in place doesn’t just affect seniors think about the middle aged who suffer from MS or other diseases that disable one’s body. A little remodeling to make the home safer and more maneuverable is all that is needed to keep individuals living the independent lives they crave.