It doesn't take much effort nor money to create a safer home environment.  In fact, in can start with just 4 easy-to-do ideas that each cost less than $50.... so there is no excuse.  And there is no better time to start than now.  Check out these concepts and share them with family and friends. 

1. Switch out doorknobs for lever-style handles. Doorknobs require lots of dexterity and torque to open; with levers you simply press and go. Makes sense for folks with arthritis, of course, but think about an emergency situation when everyone, including small kids, needs to exit fast: A lever handle is a safe, foolproof way to open a door.

A big plus: Levers are good-looking and can contribute to the value of your home. A standard interior passage door lever in a satin nickel finish costs about $20; you’ll pay $25 to $30 for a lockable lever set for your bath or bedroom. Replacing door hardware is an easy DIY job.

2. Replace toggle light switches with rocker-style switches. Rocker switches feature a big on/off plate that you can operate with a finger, a knuckle, or even your elbow when you’re laden with bags of groceries.

Rocker switches are sleek and good-looking, too. Ever notice how conventional toggle switches get dirt and grime embedded in them after a couple of years? No more! You’ll pay $2 for a single-pole rocker switch, up to $10 for multiple switch sets.

3. Anti-scald devices for your bathroom prevent water from reaching unsafe temps. An anti-scald shower head ($15) reduces water flow to a trickle if the water gets too hot. An anti-scald faucet device ($40) replaces your faucet aerator and also reduces hot water flow.

Anti-scald valves – also known as pressure-balancing valves – prevent changes in water pressure from creating sudden bursts of hot or cold water. An anti-scald valve ($100) installs on plumbing pipes inside your walls. If you don’t have DIY skills, you’ll pay a plumber $100 to $200 for installation.

4. Motion sensor light controls add light when you need it. They come in a variety of styles and simple technologies. Try plug-in sensors ($10 to $15). You simply stick them into existing receptacles, then plug your table or floor lamps into them. When the sensor detects motion, it turns on the light. They’re great for 2 a.m. snacking, or if your young kids are at that age when they migrate into your bed in the middle of the night. The lights turn off after about 10 minutes if no more motion is detected.

Source: www.houselogic.com

In an article from the National Monitor, researchers say that happy seniors just age more gracefully.  They say there is a correlation between being active and having a happy life later on.  Check out the article by Ian Lang.   

While it’s nearly impossible to avoid the inevitable loss of physical function that accompanies aging, a study out of the Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care at University College London suggests that seniors who enjoy life enjoy improved mobility and live longer than their more sour peers.

While happiness itself does not enhance or preserve one’s physical capabilities, happier people do tend to be healthier and more active, which in turn is linked to increased mobility, even in old age. Though the reverse is also true (healthier people also tend to be happier), scientists say that’s not the explanation. The happiness factor is important, regardless of health.

“We have previously shown that positive well-being and enjoyment of life are predictors of longer life,” said study author Andrew Steptoe. “Older people who report greater enjoyment are less likely to die over the next five to eight years than those with lower enjoyment of life.”

To read the entire article, Click HERE 

Boomers are constantly changing the world.  No surprise there when you consider they are 76 million of them just now contemplating their future.  They have always been knows as the "Generation of Change" and they are proving it now by how they are defining what it means to be active seniors and enthusiastic elders.

And when it comes to home design, many are rethinking if that two story home with a full basement and the double car garage will be the place they will live in the years to come.  

For some, making the change to an accessible home is on their agenda but some don't have a clue how to begin. 



So what would make the perfect home for boomers?  We think we have a few ideas.

(1) Single story homes or at least all the major rooms on one level such as the "eat-in" great kitchen, the master bedroom and bath, the laundry room as starters.... plus at least one guest suite with a fully accessible bathroom.  

(2) Big windows for more light and large glass doorways that provide ways to more directly connect with the outdoors.   And better interior lighting since as we age, we need more illumination.  Consider using warm-colored LED lighting that has a long life expectancy.  

(3) Bigger is better when it comes to doors and halls, too.  And rather than doors that might get into the way, consider pocket or sliding door panels that make it easy to move about the rooms.  And don't forget to include barrier-free access for guests who might come visit... so at least one no-step entry up to the home. 

(4) Some would suggest home offices.  But consider that more and more we connect to the Internet wirelessly so rather than have a formal desk, chair and file space,... make the home office more of a retreat where reading the news on the iPad is more comfortable in a chair and ottoman than sitting for hours at a desk. 

(5) Using technology will make everyone's lives easier.  Consider thermostats that are smart to know when rooms are occupied,... door deadbolts that recognize who you are thru your fingerprint,... and wireless internet cameras that notify us when something unusual has occurred while away from home.  

There are many other choices but we'd like to know what are your thoughts about the perfect Boomer home?  Leave us a comment and we will include it in our list. 


Also check us out on Facebook.  You can add you comments about the perfect boomer home right there.    -->   www.facebook.com/stayinplace  

Boomers Can Benefit from Sustainable Stay-in-Place Homes 








For those in the design and architecture profession, sustainable design is part of the culture these days. But with the expanding population of 76 million baby boomers, designing a “sustainable life” at home may just be the next big “sustainable design” trend.

Research by several groups indicates that large numbers of boomers are concerned about mobility, healthcare costs and dependence on families, as well as access to government services. But surveys also highlight the concerns boomers have about how and where they will live in order to “sustain” their own personal independence. The result? The demand for more options in age-appropriate housing will only increase.

Since the best place to spend retirement years would be in a home of one’s own choosing, it makes sense to create spaces that combine both safe, secure and barrier-free concepts with green, eco-friendly choices for the ultimate boomer interior.  By making a few simple choices such as high efficiency appliances, solar-supportive power sources, low-maintenance fabrics and furnishings, and interior finishes that support good indoor air quality, boomers will be able to live in their own healthy places for a much longer period of time.

Some of the most basic ideas that combine both sustainable and age-friendly solutions include: abundant lighting using LED and compact florescent light sources, hard surface flooring like cork and wood from sustainably managed forests, cabinets finished with low or no volatile organic compounds, and water, heat and cooling systems with Hepa-type filtrations.

Other concepts include showers with temperature and water flow settings, taller toilet seats with dual flush controls, smart-control thermostats with large readable displays, auto-controlled window treatments that screen out the sun’s glare and harmful rays and solid surface quartz countertops that inhibit the growth of bacteria.

“Sustainable living” is the next wave and design professionals should not ignore it. Opportunities for a new trend in business await those who will think “beyond green.” And even better, the impact that designers can make on the quality of life for our boomer clients will be invaluable.

Written by Michael A. Thomas, FASID, CAPS, DAASE for ASID's News Magazine ICON.