Courtesy of Jeff Tidswell

AGING IN PLACE

If you, like a number of Canadians, decide aging in place is how you want to spend your golden years, take the time to plan early so when the need arises, you’ll be set. If you’re unfamiliar with the concept, aging in place is the idea that as you grow older, instead of moving to a senior living residence, you add amenities to your current living space that allow you to comfortably stay in your home and community. To start your plan, decide if your current home is suitable for the transition. Look at things like the layout, number of stairs, proximity to stores you would want to visit and decide if it’s a place you can modify or if you would be better off purchasing a new property with the appropriate features. Once you’ve decided on the property, think about modifications that will allow you to easily move around your home, as falls are a leading cause of injury for seniors. Look into common areas where footing may be an issue: living spaces, floor transitions and bathrooms all may have hidden risks that could cause you to slip, trip or fall. • Start with simple modifications like securing the edges of your area rugs (or removing them entirely) to limit tripping hazards in your walking space. Add a solid hand railing along the stairs (this is useful at any age). • With flooring, have a look at the transitions as you move from room to room. If these transitions are different heights, the next time you make a flooring update, consider levelling each area so there are no ‘lips’ to step over. • In the bathroom, items like grab bars will help you navigate entry into and around the shower; or on your staircase, there may come a time when you want to install a chair lift. Even if you’re not ready to install these items now, you can plan any renovations to be strong enough to support the installation in future years. • Lastly, consider your furniture. Height, firmness, stability are all items to think about when purchasing new pieces as you want to ensure you can easily get up off the couch or climb in and out of bed. When positioning your furniture in your space, keep in mind the path you take to get to your favourite chair and place accessories out of the way – that way, you won’t trip over the magazine rack on your way to sit down. The more planning and adjusting you can do now while you’re healthy and spry will help you age in place comfortably in the future.

ROYAL L e PAGE NORALTA REAL ESTATE Office: 780-431-5600 3018 Calgary Trail NW Edmonton, AB T6J 6V4 JEFF TIDSWELL

Visit www.royallepagenoralta.ca for currently listed homes in and around the Edmonton area.

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