Tom Wells Construction

What to look for when selecting an aging-in-place contractor

May 22, 2012 By webmaster

submitted by Tom Wells, Tom Wells Construction, www.tgw-construction.com

Last month, I discussed adding strategically placed grips throughout a home to make it easier for seniors to move around. This month, I’d like to escalate things a bit to consider what you need to think about before hiring someone to make a bathroom or a kitchen safer and more senior-friendly.

When considering a contractor for an aging-in-place modification, the very first thing to focus on is how qualified he or she is for the job. My professional journals are filled with articles about “aging-in-place” as one of the next big things. Unfortunately, many contractors who want to add this specialty to their offerings simply aren’t qualified – let alone certified – to do this kind of work.

I’m sorry to say it, but, frankly, most contractors just want to get in and get out as quickly as possible.

For example, I know of a situation where a contractor proposed putting in a stall shower for a man who uses a wheelchair. This supposedly “senior-friendly” modification was completely unworkable – the contractor did not anticipate a time when the man might no longer be able to stand up (which is exactly what happened). The correct solution would have been to install a zero-threshold shower with a shower chair.

One indication of whether a prospective contractor has the necessary expertise and training is to look for someone who either is, or employs, a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist. In a future article, I will explain exactly what’s involved in earning this National Association of Home Builders certification (it isn’t easy).

But I’ll give you a hint, when it comes to making a bathroom or a kitchen senior-friendly, inches matter!

Once you’ve identified several qualified contractors…once you’ve followed up on the references they’ve provided…there is one final consideration. And it isn’t cost. It’s whether a given contractor is dedicated to putting your needs first. Does he or she sit down with you for an in-depth interview to discover what you really need and want?

Many people don’t know what they really want. Or they know but can’t articulate it.

[Read more...]

Get a Grip! – Think ahead about banisters and grab bars

April 24, 2012 By webmaster

submitted By Tom Wells, Tom Wells Construction, www.tgw-construction.com

I believe that someone who claims to have “no regrets” has either gone through life asleep or never lived life at all. Everyone has regrets. One of mine is that I didn’t do more to make my parents’ home more senior-friendly before my dad died at age 92 in 2007. It’s a mistake I have vowed not to make with my mom.

If your goal is to prepare a home for senior living, you will be glad to know that you may not have to make a major financial commitment right away. You may not have to install a first floor bathroom immediately. You might just need to replace your current banister with one that is more senior-friendly and install strategically placed handgrips or grab bars around the house.

Let’s consider banisters first. Millions of homes were built with banisters that can only be grasped by the fingers holding on to the top or the sides. The problem is that as we age, we lose gripping strength. If you have one or more banisters like this, the solution is to replace them with ones that are senior-friendly, or add an additional one on the other side of the stairs.

To be effective, the palm of the hand must be pushing against the top of the banister, with the forefinger and thumb almost pinching together underneath. Round or oval handrails are best. The handrail should be between 32 and 36 inches off of the floor.

Next let’s consider strategically placed grab bars. I once tore a leg muscle and had to do about a month’s worth of physical therapy sessions at St. Mary’s. There are grab bars all over the place there. We’ve all seen grips like them, if only in a public restroom with a stall for folks with diminished abilities. They are inevitably “brushed chrome” affairs with a distinctive institutional look.

[Read more...]