Supporting Aging adults with Developmental Disabilities Home Adaptations

This training was made possible by generous grants from the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities and from Spectrum for Livings Endowment Fund.

The information for this presentation was adapted from the manual, A Home For Life: Home Modifications for Aging in Place with an Intellectual Disability. By Richard V. Olsen, Ph.D and B. Lynn Hutchings, M.Arch.

Walkways and Entrances: well lit and free from shrubs or trees that obstruct access Trim back or remove all shrubbery and grass that encroach on the sidewalks.

Older people need more light. They also have more difficulty adjusting from one light level to another. Walking from a well-lit house into the dark can be difficult and dangerous.

Mail boxes should be accessible All exterior spaces that people use at night should be well lit: driveways parking lots garages trash areas.

Patios and pathways should be free of tripping hazards. Spaces between pavers can be tripping hazards.

Good lighting: People should never have to walk through a darkened hallway to turn on a light. Night lights, particularly for hallways that lead from the bedroom to the bathroom.

Tripping hazards should be corrected or removed: unnecessary furniture, equipment or clutter spaces between carpet runners runners and mats in poor conditions or without anti-skid backing carpets with raised or frayed edges

Carpets should be in good condition and firmly tacked down. No telephones on stair landings. People could trip and fall down the stairs in their haste to reach a ringing telephone

Sufficient number of light fixtures/lamps. The following are some furniture problems to correct or avoid: Furniture with hard, sharp edges. Chairs and sofas that are too low, too soft and/or are armless Too many pieces of furniture (and throw rugs)

CLUTTER: a serious concern. Places people at risk for tripping. Can obstruct emergency exits from the house/apartment in case of a fire. Can make it difficult for people with poor memory or intellectual disabilities to find things. It can increase tension and frustration levels in the home.

Broken or sticking draws must be repaired. Beds should be adjusted to suit the height of the older person. Bedside tables Furniture risers There should be a bedside lamp within easy reach on the beside table. Easy to switch on/off. Invest in tap on lights.

De-clutter bedrooms as much as possible by: Building additional shelving units Better organized (or larger) dressers/closets Storage containers Wheelchair accessibility issues: Arrange furniture along the perimeter of the bedroom to allow easier maneuvering for wheel chairs.

Windows: Ensure that older people are able to easily open/close the windows in their home and in their bedroom. Move furniture that is blocking windows Repair windows to make sure that they are easy to lock/unlock Remove tripping hazards

The most dangerous zone of the aging adults home. Various reasons: Tight spaces Hard surfaces sharp edges Slippery surfaces.

Some ideas for general renovations… Easily accessible hooks on doors/walls for hanging clothing Easy–to-reach and easy-to-locate shelving for toiletries Remove clutter!

General Renovations, contd Lighting Issues… Ensure that there is adequate lighting. Older people need more lighting Minimize the glare from lights by using matte (not glossy) finishes on floors and walls. Replace bare bulbs with globes and brightness diffusers to minimize glare Light switches should be easy to use. Rocker switches are recommended.

General renovations, contd: Use double cueing on faucets. Cover all pipes attached to a wheelchair- accessible sink.

Tub & Shower issues: Utilize a shower seat. Provide a shower caddy to hold toiletries within easy reach. Remove old shower doors to increase the amount of clear opening for climbing into the tub.

Toilets: Challenging because some older people have difficulty sitting down and standing up from the toilet due to the toilet being too low or too small. Installing a raised toilet seat can help

Install Lazy Susans in corner cabinets to make items easier to reach. Grabbers can help people reach light weight items that are higher up in cabinet or on a shelf Adequate lighting and switches at each entrance to the kitchen