While this is an attractive entrance with a covering, it may not meet the needs so well of the occupants or their guests, and there may not a store or website where they can see ideas to make it more serviceable.
Aging in place solutions aren’t in the store
While some people feel that getting older means being less able to perform some of the tasks they have been enjoying in the past or to be experiencing more aches and pains than had been true previously, getting older is to be enjoyed as much as possible.
Nevertheless, some of us run into situations using our homes that require some assistance or modification. We might need to install wall rails, showers assists, wider doors, better lighting, sturdier flooring that is less prone to slipping, better lighting that is more focused on work areas, and other specific area improvements that are not difficult to create or install but may not be available as a readily available or easily identifiable retail item. Even when we see something that we think would help, is it the best choice, or is there something else we should be considering? How will we know?
As we visit stores or showrooms, examine catalogs, or explore websites, we can find a lot of products, but often they are not labeled precisely for what we need.
Self-medicating as a solution
It’s human nature for many of us to want to fix things when they aren’t quite right. We’ll reach for a pain reliever when we have a headache or a pulled or tight muscle. We bandage cuts and scrapes that are minor. We eat healthy, exercise, and take supplements. We want to maintain or improve our quality of life. We exercise. We try to be well-read on aging, nutrition, exercise, and topics involving safety in the home.
Still, there are so many things that we might want to do such as changing the height of the toilet, getting a walk-in tub, having a lift or power assist to get into or out of a tub, getting motorized shelves, or installing pull-out/pull-down trays, for instance.
Using a specialist is the best idea
Because there are so many products in the marketplace, and we may not fully appreciate what may be required now or in the near-term to live a safe and comfortable life in our homes and to accommodate or present as well as our changing needs, we should enlist the help of a Certified Aging In Place Specialist (CAPS) who is trained to help us evaluate our needs, our living space, and make effective recommendations. Those of us who are CAPS should recognize the opportunities available to provide such assistance and actively work with people that we encounter who plan on aging in place in their current homes so that we can help them be successful.