They say home is where the heart is, and for many that means wanting to remain in the place they have lived and made their memories in. This usually means there is a need to update rooms in the house to make them accessible and safe for older age. Or perhaps you need to prep for an incoming loved one. From safety rails to even installing an elevator, there are steps you can take to make your home work for a lifetime.
Services such as Smooth Transitions in Brunswick not only help clean out the homes of the elderly as they move in with family or to a retirement village, but they can also help prepare homes for those who want to age in place.
These types of assistance might include updating restrooms to include handrails, removing clutter that can get in the way and cause stumbling, or adding ramps, making rooms such as the kitchen easier to navigate and utilize.
“They’ve lived in their home for 30, 40, 50 years and you just accumulate,” says Laura Armbruster Farmer, owner and CEO of Armbruster Moving and Storage, which owns Smooth Transitions. “We’ll go in and help them figure out what do they need? What do they want to donate, to give to their family?”
Farmer says to start thinking of a plan early, whether it is to “right size” (finding a house that is bigger to accommodate family and grandchildren or smaller to make moving around easier or age in place).
Though the homeowners are the ones who make the call, it is often the adult children who help get the ball rolling.
“An adult child will call and say ‘Hey, I notice Mom and Dad’s house is getting cluttered, could you help out?’” she says.
“A lot of times what we’ll see is that people are sleeping in the recliner and only going to the kitchen and that’s the only spot they’re going to because they can’t access other spots.”
Once the house is cleaned out allowing for ease of movement, the time comes to make those movements safer. Smooth Transitions can help plan for these types of adjustments and outsource the service to a medical equipment company.
“There’s grab bars and getting a stair lift,” Farmer says. “Our role is getting the house ready so that they can get to the next step of making the house safe for them to stay in."
One solution Farmer suggests is that if the bedroom is on the second floor, alleviate the need for a stair lift by moving to a guest room downstairs if one is available.
As Farmer says, timing is everything and it is never too early to prepare for the future.
“Get started now, with just one closet, one drawer and make a goal to do an hour or two a week,” Farmer recommends. “You’re pulling out things you haven’t used in a year and you’re donating them, giving them to your kids and reorganizing.”
Get inspired for your next home project by digging in to the 2023 Cleveland Home Issue.
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