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How well is your current home designed to keep you safe as you age? As a person ages, their accessibility changes. What used to seem simple can suddenly become a chore. But there are ways to change your current design, and make things easier now and as you age. Take a look at this home design checklist. How many questions can you answer with a yes?

Storage

• I can reach things in my closets, even from a sitting position.

• My clothing rods are all located between 20 to 44 inches from the floor.

• I have a closet organization system to make things more accessible.

• I clean my closet regularly to keep the most used items in easy reach.

• My lower drawers are deep and open all the way. Upper drawers are shallow.

• I have adequate light in my closets.

• Light switches are easy to reach.

• The door to the closet is at least 32 inches wide.

Electrical

• Electrical outlets are at least 27 inches from the floor.

• All rooms can be adequately lit by using a switch as you enter a room.

• All rooms have an ample number of outlets, and I rarely need to use extension cords.

• I have enough light in each room, either through natural or electric light, to live normally.

• Hallways, walkways and pathways are all well lit.

• I have automatic lights to welcome me as I come home, and to allow me to get safely into my home.

Safety

• I have a smoke detector on each floor.

• I have a smoke detector in each bedroom.

• I have at least one battery-operated detector that isn’t dependent on electricity.

• All smoke detectors are located on the ceiling.

• I test my smoke detector regularly, and replace the batteries on a regular schedule.

• I have a carbon monoxide detector on each floor.

• I test my carbon monoxide detector on a regular basis.

• I keep a fire extinguisher on each floor of my home, and make them easy to access.

The more yeses, the safer your current living arrangements are. Even a few no’s leave room for improvement. When you are ready for a home redesign, don’t just plan on the comforts of home, plan for safety too.

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