Your home should be a place where you feel not just relaxed, but actively supported in everything you do. When this fails to be the case it’s understandable not to just become frustrated, but actively limited.
Today more than 50 million Americans live with a disability. When you consider the American population is rapidly aging and will bear a population of 20% or more that are over the age of 65…it’s time to consider the accessibility standards of the average home. Old-fashioned set-ups just don’t cut it anymore. Not when mobility is a term that changes on a dime and more people than ever are in need of not just smarter laws, but smarter homes. If you have a family member that wants to age in place or are wondering where you could end up in the next few years, learning more about these resources will help immensely.
With the aid of smart door openers and dependable stairlifts, the home of tomorrow could come sooner than we all thought.
As stated above, a significant portion of the American population is living with a disability, according to the most recent studies, and the most common disability as we know it is limited mobility. This includes struggling to stand, walk, run, lift heavy objects or complete simple tasks. Today nearly seven million Americans will use assistive devices to aid their mobility, such as a cane or a back brace, and today’s healthcare system is actively contending with the state of a rapidly aging population. What does this mean for household safety?
It’s estimated an older adult will be treated in the emergency room for a fall. Not only is this an alarming rate, over half of all of these accidents happen not outside or during an event, but in their own home. A fall can have serious implications, particularly for those already struggling with chronic pain or age, and can even be deadly. Every year over two million senior citizens will visit the emergency room for injuries caused by a fall, including sprains, broken bones and cuts. Residential wooden stairlifts and electric wheelchair lifts aren’t simple accommodations. They can save a life.
It’s estimated 2030 will see older adults accounting for 20% of the American population. Every year over 235,000 people will experience injuries in the bathroom, thanks to data provided by the CDC, and many homes are ill-equipped to accommodate people of varying needs. According to a 2016 Aging In Place report, over 45% of homeowners aged 55 and up have stated the bathroom is the place they have most recently considered modifying to help them age in place. This includes installing residential wooden stairlifts, modified door handles and different bathtubs.
The bathroom is considered a particularly hazardous area because of the slippery tub and lack of guardrails for those with mobility issues. The same HomeAdvisor Aging In Place report saw home installation professionals stating the most common aging-in-place projects they’ve been hired to do include installing grab bars as well as adding entryway wheelchair ramps. Residential wooden stairlifts can take off the strain off exiting and entering the home, to boot, and many of these disastrous falls can be avoided entirely with a simple installation. Today more homeowning projects are being cultivated not for aesthetic, but function.
The AARP as well as the National Conference Of State Legislatures found 90% of people over the age of 65 want to live in their home for as long as possible. Today’s American home can be not just more energy-efficient and more beautiful, but more accommodating to people of all needs. How could handicap bathroom requirements or residential wooden stairlifts change the way you live?
