Blog & Social

Spend any amount of time scrolling social media and you’ll stumble upon funny memes poking fun at the pitfalls of aging – like one currently making the rounds that shows the disparate ways a man descends the same staircase in his home in his 20s, 30s, 40s…on up to 60s when he slowly creaks down the steps clutching the rail.

While it’s meant to be humorous, it is true. Most homes are designed for young, able-bodied adults and don’t meet the needs of older residents or people with disabilities. Enter the expansive AARP HomeFit program, offering advice and resources to make homes safer, more comfortable, and more suitable for people of all ages.

The Atlanta Home Show’s fall edition is partnering with AARP’s Georgia chapter to provide insight to guests exploring “aging in place” for themselves or family members with a feature area and informative stage presentations.

The HomeFit program offers a gamut of education from small tweaks to large renovations. It can be overwhelming at first, but here are some smaller, less inexpensive changes that will help make a home safer and friendlier for those aging in place.

One of AARP’s main tips: prioritize safety first.

• Lighting: Ensure indoor and outdoor areas have ample lighting to allow for easy and safe navigation of the home. Night-lights in bedrooms and bathrooms can also help prevent falls and keep spaces more accessible.

• Grab Bars and Handles: Install grab bars on shower walls or near the toilet to aid with stabilization. Swap doorknobs and faucets for lever-style handles, which are easier to use for those with stiff hands or limited mobility. 

• Seating: Select chairs with armrests to help with sitting and standing. Place seating in the shower for bathing and swap a showerhead for a handheld nozzle to allow rinsing while seated.
  
  
• Non-Slip Strips: Add textured, non-slip trips to the bathtub and shower. Secure area rugs with slip-resistant backings.
  
  
• No-Step Entry. Make the home entrance more accessible for those who use wheelchairs and walkers by installing a threshold or full ramp, or a lift.
  

• Technology: Consider new caregiving home devices that can help loved ones live more independently, particularly when emergencies occur. Voice-activated lighting with smart plugs can help make lighting more accessible, and smart smoke detectors can issue text alerts and voice instructions. Medical alert systems have advanced far beyond basic, wearable devices and now include GPS, cell service, fall detection, home security monitoring and even activity trackers.
  
  

In addition to their daily presentations and feature space with trusted advisors to answer aging in place questions, show guests can also enter a sweepstakes with a chance to win a $250 gift card. For more information, please visit Official Atlanta Home Show | September 6-8, 2024 | Cobb Galleria Center (fallatlantahomeshow.com)