Tips On Making A Home More Senior Friendly (NAPSA)—A growing number of seniors are finding that with a few design changes, their home can be made to accommodate their physical, financial and emotional needs as they grow older. For many, this means they can maintain a sense of independence and avoid moving to a different home, movingin with a relative or to a retirement community. Some say the comfort and peace of mind that can come from staying in a home that has been remodeled is worth the modest investment the changes require. In some cases, these renovations may add value to a home. Here are a few examples of changes that can make residence more seniorfriendly: Installing handheld showers and nonslip strips on the shower or tub floor. Lowering at least one coun- tertop in the kitchen so meals can be prepared while sitting down. Finding a stove with controls on the front so you don’t have to reach across burners. Putting a side-by-side refrigerator-freezer in the kitchen can make it easier to get into the freezer, while shelves that roll out of cabinets make heavy pots more accessible. Mounting light fixtures with dimmers on walls or overhead can reduce the risk of tripping over Making a modest investment to make a home more comfortable for seniors can pay off in comfort, safety and peace of mind. This feature can be beneficial when there are more than two users in the house and the lift needs to be sent or “called” up and down the stairs. In addition, the wireless design means that there is no unsightly wall-mounted wiring for control stations. At the end of either an ascent or descent, the stairlift is de- signed to come to a “soft stop” due to the limit sensors. These sensors are said to ensure that the stairlift always stops in the correct position. For extra safety, the stairlift comes with a lap harnessas standard equipment, for no extra cost. Plus, the stairlift seat swivels and locks in position, making mount- wires. ing and dismountingthestairlift easy and safe. According to Ron Griffin of Mobility Solutions of Maryland, “Acorn’s flexible stairlifts can be installed in a couple of hours and can add years of safety, peace of mind and protection from injuries from falls.” infrared remote control handset, www.acornstairlifts.com/us or call toll free (866) STAIRLIFT. Seniors with diminished mobility may want to consider installing a stairlift with the appropriate safety features. For example, Acorn Superglide Stairlifts can be controlled by either the simple mechanical “paddle” switches at the end of both seat arms, or by way of the two of which are supplied. To learn more, visit
