I have a neighbor who we call Mrs. Phyllis. Mrs. Phyllis is my inspiration for how I want to be when I have been around for 86 years. She is my inspiration because she is active (she volunteers at our local library and just started taking tai chi), witty and she still lives in her own home.
We are all getting older. No shocking news there, but we tend to not want to think about it. The first signs of gray hair are hard enough but then come thoughts of how we remember our grandparents. From the moment we are born we are working our way towards independence and that is no stronger evident than wanting control over the place we live. Mrs. Phyllis tells me she never wants to leave her home. Her husband passed away over twenty years ago but in that time she has done a lot of thing right to make sure she will be there – comfortably – for a very long time.
Aging in place is a growing movement in this country. The goal is to have us think about our future and how it relates to the home we are in – at any age, from our twenties to our golden years. Aging in place is about our relationship with our home’s space and structure and how we can remain in that space safely.
Walk through your home. What would it be like if you had arthritis? How would the simple act of turning a doorknob be? A simple solution would be to change doorknobs to a lever-type knob. What if you had difficulty seeing? Would more lighting be helpful? Additional lighting in work areas make a big difference not only in seeing the task at hand but to safety. Think about if you were in a wheelchair. Are there impairments for your ability to move around. Even things as simple as thresholds in doorways become mountains to go over.
At Hardline Design and Construction we are committed to helping people gain more knowledge about Aging in Place. Follow our postings and blogs for ideas on simple solutions you can do around your home. And also remember we can help you with any design and remodeling needs to make your home one you will love to grow old with. If we are all lucky we will be like Mrs. Phyllis one day.
The National Aging in Place Council has an informative website with topics on everything related to Aging in Place. http://www.ageinplace.org/ Image by the National Aging In Place Council.
Good Day!
Came across your website, and wanted to see if we could get meet to explore working together. I live in Hillsboro and cover the NW as a business manager for a cabinet manufacturer. Your aging in place article caught my eye. I am currently working with a fabulous lady up in Bellevue, Wa (Marcia Gleason-kbdesignplace.com), and this is an arena which is underserved, in my opinion. Glad to see it is an emphasis of your organization. You can reach me at 503-806-2672.I am in town Wednesday and Thursday of this week.
Cheers!