WEBVTT 00:00:00.770 --> 00:00:03.890 If moving around your own home is starting to 00:00:03.890 --> 00:00:06.669 feel harder, that's not only frustrating, it 00:00:06.669 --> 00:00:09.810 can be dangerous. And here's the thing, most 00:00:09.810 --> 00:00:12.550 falls don't happen outside. They happen right 00:00:12.550 --> 00:00:15.990 in your home in places we know well. Today I'm 00:00:15.990 --> 00:00:17.809 going to walk you through how to make a home 00:00:17.809 --> 00:00:20.929 mobility -friendly. That means easier to move 00:00:20.929 --> 00:00:23.949 through, safer to use, and less tiring on your 00:00:23.949 --> 00:00:26.789 body. You'll learn simple changes you can make 00:00:26.789 --> 00:00:29.859 room by room, what matters most, and where to 00:00:29.859 --> 00:00:32.659 start so you don't feel overwhelmed. And just 00:00:32.659 --> 00:00:34.960 so you know where I'm coming from, I'm Robin 00:00:34.960 --> 00:00:38.020 Schiltz, a Senior Home Safety Specialist. I've 00:00:38.020 --> 00:00:40.219 spent years helping older adults and families 00:00:40.219 --> 00:00:43.020 make homes safer so people can stay independent 00:00:43.020 --> 00:00:47.320 longer. This is practical stuff, not fancy renovations. 00:00:48.280 --> 00:00:51.570 Alrighty, let's get into it. When I say mobility 00:00:51.570 --> 00:00:54.409 friendly, I don't just mean wheelchairs. I mean 00:00:54.409 --> 00:00:57.649 for walkers and canes, balance changes, stiff 00:00:57.649 --> 00:01:01.729 joints, slower reactions, all of it. A mobility 00:01:01.729 --> 00:01:04.250 friendly home works with your body, not against 00:01:04.250 --> 00:01:08.109 it. The first thing to look at is pathways. How 00:01:08.109 --> 00:01:11.430 do you actually move from room to room? You want 00:01:11.430 --> 00:01:14.549 clear, wide walking paths. That means removing 00:01:14.549 --> 00:01:17.629 small furniture, plant stands, magazine racks, 00:01:17.730 --> 00:01:20.750 or anything that sticks out. If you have to turn 00:01:20.750 --> 00:01:24.230 sideways to get through, that's a problem. Rugs 00:01:24.230 --> 00:01:27.670 are another big one. Loose throw rugs slide, 00:01:27.950 --> 00:01:31.049 curl, and trip people up. If you keep rugs, they 00:01:31.049 --> 00:01:34.230 need non -slip backing or double -sided tape. 00:01:34.909 --> 00:01:38.950 Honestly, fewer rugs in the home is better. Lighting 00:01:38.950 --> 00:01:42.010 matters more than most people realize. Poor lighting 00:01:42.010 --> 00:01:45.400 makes it hard to judge depth and distance. Add 00:01:45.400 --> 00:01:47.920 brighter bulbs, especially in hallway, stairs, 00:01:48.120 --> 00:01:51.280 and entryways. Motion sensor lights are great, 00:01:51.280 --> 00:01:55.219 so you're not fumbling for switches. Now let's 00:01:55.219 --> 00:01:58.379 talk about floors. Slippery surfaces are not 00:01:58.379 --> 00:02:02.140 your friend. Polished tile, glossy wood, and 00:02:02.140 --> 00:02:06.200 wet bathroom floors all increase fall risk. Non 00:02:06.200 --> 00:02:08.340 -slip mats in the bathroom and kitchen make a 00:02:08.340 --> 00:02:11.389 big difference. If you're remodeling, choose 00:02:11.389 --> 00:02:14.969 flooring with texture, not shine. And keep cords 00:02:14.969 --> 00:02:19.889 out of walking paths, always. Next up is doorways 00:02:19.889 --> 00:02:23.490 and transitions. Thresholds that you barely noticed 00:02:23.490 --> 00:02:26.710 years ago can become tripping hazards. If there's 00:02:26.710 --> 00:02:30.569 a lip between rooms, look at low profile transition 00:02:30.569 --> 00:02:34.659 strips. Doors should open easily. If twisting 00:02:34.659 --> 00:02:37.159 a doorknob hurts your hands, switch the knob 00:02:37.159 --> 00:02:40.139 to a lever handle. That's a small change with 00:02:40.139 --> 00:02:44.020 a big payoff. Let's move now into the bathroom 00:02:44.020 --> 00:02:46.460 because this is where I see the most injuries. 00:02:47.780 --> 00:02:51.139 Grab bars are essential, and no, towel bars do 00:02:51.139 --> 00:02:54.219 not count. Grab bars should be installed near 00:02:54.219 --> 00:02:57.360 the toilet and in the shower or tub. They give 00:02:57.360 --> 00:02:59.840 you something solid to hold onto when sitting, 00:03:00.020 --> 00:03:03.620 standing, or stepping in and out. A raised toilet 00:03:03.620 --> 00:03:06.180 seat can reduce how far you have to bend, which 00:03:06.180 --> 00:03:09.979 is huge for knees and hips. In the shower, use 00:03:09.979 --> 00:03:12.819 a non -slip mat and consider a shower chair. 00:03:13.500 --> 00:03:15.900 Sitting while bathing reduces fatigue and the 00:03:15.900 --> 00:03:20.379 risk of slipping. A hand -held shower head lets 00:03:20.379 --> 00:03:23.080 you wash without twisting or reaching. These 00:03:23.080 --> 00:03:27.539 are practical, dignity -preserving changes. Alright, 00:03:27.659 --> 00:03:30.460 moving on to the kitchen, this is about reach 00:03:30.460 --> 00:03:33.400 and balance. You want to store everyday items 00:03:33.400 --> 00:03:36.159 between waist and shoulder height. If you're 00:03:36.159 --> 00:03:40.159 using a step stool, that's a red flag. Pull out 00:03:40.159 --> 00:03:43.240 shelves in Lazy Susan's reduced bending and stretching. 00:03:44.099 --> 00:03:46.139 Make sure there's good lighting over counters 00:03:46.139 --> 00:03:49.060 and the stove. And if standing for long periods 00:03:49.060 --> 00:03:52.300 is hard, a sturdy stool lets you sit while prepping 00:03:52.300 --> 00:03:56.310 food. Alright, let's talk about stairs, even 00:03:56.310 --> 00:03:59.569 if you only have a few. Handrails should be on 00:03:59.569 --> 00:04:02.729 both sides if possible. They need to be secure 00:04:02.729 --> 00:04:06.389 and easy to grip. Steps should be well lit with 00:04:06.389 --> 00:04:10.669 light switches at the top and bottom. If depth 00:04:10.669 --> 00:04:13.990 perception is an issue, adding contrast strips 00:04:13.990 --> 00:04:17.189 on the edge of each step can help your eyes see 00:04:17.189 --> 00:04:21.120 where one step ends and the next begins. If stairs 00:04:21.120 --> 00:04:23.620 are becoming a daily struggle, that's important 00:04:23.620 --> 00:04:26.540 information. It doesn't mean you failed. It means 00:04:26.540 --> 00:04:29.579 your home needs to change with you. Sometimes 00:04:29.579 --> 00:04:33.199 that means moving essential living spaces to 00:04:33.199 --> 00:04:36.060 one level or exploring options like stair lifts. 00:04:37.279 --> 00:04:40.519 Now let's talk about bedrooms and living spaces. 00:04:41.460 --> 00:04:44.100 First of all, bed height matters. If the bed 00:04:44.100 --> 00:04:47.100 is too low, it's hard to stand. If it's too high, 00:04:47.360 --> 00:04:50.019 it's hard to get in it safely. You want your 00:04:50.019 --> 00:04:52.860 feet flat on the floor when sitting on the edge. 00:04:53.399 --> 00:04:56.439 Chairs should have arms so you can push up, not 00:04:56.439 --> 00:05:00.360 rock forward and back and strain. Soft and low 00:05:00.360 --> 00:05:03.699 couches are tough on mobility. You want to keep 00:05:03.699 --> 00:05:06.839 frequently used items within easy reach. That 00:05:06.839 --> 00:05:10.319 includes phones, glasses, medications, remotes. 00:05:11.039 --> 00:05:13.699 Nightlights are a must for trips to the bathroom. 00:05:14.160 --> 00:05:17.420 Falls at night are very common. Here's something 00:05:17.420 --> 00:05:21.060 I want to say clearly, too. Making a home mobility 00:05:21.060 --> 00:05:23.399 -friendly is not about giving up independence. 00:05:24.139 --> 00:05:27.459 It's about protecting it. Every smart change 00:05:27.459 --> 00:05:31.000 reduces effort, pain, and risk, and most of these 00:05:31.000 --> 00:05:33.480 changes are affordable and can be done one step 00:05:33.480 --> 00:05:36.639 at a time. If you're not sure where to start, 00:05:36.879 --> 00:05:39.139 start where you've already noticed difficulty. 00:05:39.439 --> 00:05:42.319 Where do you feel unsteady? Where do you hesitate? 00:05:42.920 --> 00:05:45.680 That's your answer for where to start. And if 00:05:45.680 --> 00:05:48.379 you're a family caregiver who's listening, these 00:05:48.379 --> 00:05:52.139 changes also protect you. Fewer falls mean fewer 00:05:52.139 --> 00:05:55.300 emergencies, fewer injuries, and less overall 00:05:55.300 --> 00:05:59.139 stress. So thanks for joining me today. Please 00:05:59.139 --> 00:06:01.279 share this episode with someone you care about 00:06:01.279 --> 00:06:03.660 who could use the information to make their life 00:06:03.660 --> 00:06:06.839 safer. You'll find more resources for seniors 00:06:06.839 --> 00:06:09.920 and caregivers on our website at seniorsafetyadvice 00:06:09.920 --> 00:06:12.860 .com. And if you're searching for an Aging in 00:06:12.860 --> 00:06:15.540 Place Specialist, please visit our sister website 00:06:15.540 --> 00:06:19.560 at aginginplacedirectory .com. Also, if you haven't 00:06:19.560 --> 00:06:22.000 subscribed to our YouTube channel or to this 00:06:22.000 --> 00:06:25.180 podcast yet, go ahead and do that right now, 00:06:25.199 --> 00:06:27.500 and then come back tomorrow for another Daily 00:06:27.500 --> 00:06:30.579 Moment of guidance and encouragement, right here 00:06:30.579 --> 00:06:34.209 on the Senior Safety Advice Podcast. Until next 00:06:34.209 --> 00:06:38.009 time, thanks for listening, take care, bye!