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The first thing to keep in mind is that preparing our homes is a long term project that we should start as early as possible - preferably well before middle age. Why so early? Over the years, we are constantly doing repairs, renovations and improvements to our homes. If each time we make a change, we look at it as an opportunity to help ensure our independence later in life, we can implement appropriate adaptations.

In most cases, changes made while we're having other work done will require minimal, if any, additional costs. The reason for this is that most adaptations are simply a matter of good design. It costs no more to build a wide hallway than it does a narrow one.

The other great advantage to making these changes as you go along, is that you design the solution right into the project. For example, if you get appropriate door handles, you won't need some add-on gadget later on to help you turn doorknobs.

Finally, by taking responsibility for making these changes over time, you keep control of the process. You make the decisions. All too often, when we procrastinate, nothing gets done until there is a crisis or immediate need. Then family, discharge planners, or someone else is probably going to be making the decisions for us.

Ultimately the price of putting off adaptations is an increased chance of an accident, wasted money and lost independence. So take control of your future and begin to make adaptations now.

In general, there are four types of adaptations you should focus on:

• Mobility into and throughout your home
• Hand holds and railings
• Easy to use handles and controls
• Other safety issues

Mobility

As we get older, we will have more difficulty getting around and steps can become a significant barrier. Even if we never use a wheelchair, most of us would like to be able to make better use of grocery bag carts, strollers, wheeled trash cans, wheeled luggage and a variety of other conveniences. All these devices are stopped cold by steps. Like wheelchairs, they are also difficult to maneuver in tight spaces once inside the home.

One of the easiest ways to make your home easier to live in is to design it so that at least one entrance to the main living level can be accessed without going up or down steps. In many cases, this means rerouting or re-grading the front walk and porch. If you do it when you are having the walk replaced anyway, there will be little, if any additional cost.

Inside the home, there usually aren't many steps that are easily eliminated. Just make sure that if you put on an addition, it isn't necessary to use steps to get into it! Another approach that works well is to prepare for single level living. This means that as you make changes over the years, seek to give yourself the option of living entirely on one level - even if only temporarily. That means making sure there are a full bath, kitchen and bedroom all on one level. Having laundry facilities on the same level is also a big plus.

Inside your home, maneuverability is most critical in the kitchen and the bathroom. Use floor surfaces that don't become slippery when wet. Widen spaces and doorways. Whenever possible, design doorways that are 36 inches wide. Also, try to eliminate thresholds over 1/2 inch. Make sure the thresholds you do use have beveled (sloped) edges. Thresholds are those wooden, metal, or stone bumps on the floor in outside and bathroom doorways. While you don't give any thought to them when you are fully mobile, they present real obstacles to wheel chairs and other wheeled devices. These changes will not only make your home wheelchair friendly, but also give it a more open, spacious feel.

Handholds and Railings

The next issue to focus on is handholds. While it seems kind of silly, keep in mind that many serious falls are caused by inadequate railings and grips. This is especially true in the bathroom. Make sure you've got plenty of support around the toilet and the tub or shower. Does every step in the house have an adequate railing? Be aware that many original stair banisters aren't strong enough to support an adult's body weight. That is why railings need to be checked and reinforced if necessary.

A room-by-room review of handles and knobs will yield a substantial list of inadequacies. Doorknobs, window handles, faucets and other controls can cause difficulty for many people. Make sure they are easy to operate. The kitchen may be the most critical room of all. Can you reach the stove control knobs without risking a burn to your arm? Will they be easy to turn as your hands become less nimble? How about the sink faucet? What about all those cabinet and drawer handles?

Other Safety Issues

Finally, there are some other issues to consider. The odds are that your neighborhood will become less safe over time. Have you taken adequate home security measures? Do you have bright, automatic external lights? What about internal lighting? As people get older, they need brighter light to see the same things. Reading lights need to be brighter. Well-lit stairs become more important. An intercom provides added safety and a convenient way to communicate with others when it's difficult to get around. Something as simple as a peephole in the front door can be very helpful.

Burns are one of the most common injuries that older people face. We already talked about the stove controls. In some cases, you can eliminate the use of the stove entirely for heating water. There are hot water dispensers that are set up like another faucet in your sink. These are very convenient.

Scalding hot water also causes many injuries in the bathroom. It's not unusual for someone to fall in the shower or tub, hitting the faucet on the way down. What if the water temperature is suddenly increased and you can't get to the controls? Even moderately hot water will cause burns if allowed to flow for several minutes. A number of manufacturers make faucets that have a built-in scald prevention mechanism. They automatically cut off if the temperature exceeds a preset maximum.

Actually, there are a great many other opportunities for assuring your independence. To help you discover your options, there are many books and resources. Three particularly useful publications that can help are:

The Do Able Renewable Home: Published by the American Association of Retired Persons in Washington, D.C. The booklet is free. You can obtain a copy by calling AARP at (202) 434-6030.

The Perfect Fit: Creative Ideas for a Safe and Livable Home: Also published by AARP and available at no charge. This book comes across as a bit condescending at times, but it provides an excellent room-by-room analysis of simple adaptations that can make a big difference in ease of living. It also has a roster of catalogs and booklets available from manufacturers and organizations who deal with arthritis, the visually impaired, and other specialized needs.

The Directory of Accessible Building Products: Published by the National Association of Home Builders in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. They can be reached at (301) 249-4000. This catalog has a wide variety of products and source information from many different manufacturers. Skimming through it will help you get a feel for the range of products available to help maintain a safe and comfortable independence. It too has an extensive resource directory.

by David Hollies, reprinted courtesy of HomeAdvisor.com