Key Takeaways:

• Maria Stapperfenne, CMKBD, CLIPP, discussed strategies to make homes safer;
• Anything from floor surfaces to hardware to lighting can be improved for safety;
• Living in place and universal design principles increase a home’s value and offer strong ROI.

 By Dianne M. Pogoda

Falls are the leading cause of injury to older adults and a major factor in childhood accidents and deaths, but many of them can be prevented with strategic interior planning.

In a virtual presentation during an NKBA Northern New Jersey Chapter meeting, Maria Stapperfenne, CMKBD, CLIPP, of Tewksbury Kitchens & Baths, pointed out 10 critical ways to make spaces safer. In her discussion, dubbed “One Fall Can Change It All,” she shared some dour statistics from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention: one in four seniors fall every year, but only half report it; by 2030, seven people will die every hour as a result of a fall — and it’s not just seniors. She said 45% of all childhood deaths occur at home, and falls are the leading cause. In fact, nearly 73% of all falls occur at home, with 30% of the accidents requiring hospitalization. Every 13 seconds, an older adult goes to an emergency room as a result of falling. And every two weeks, a child dies because a piece of furniture or a TV falls on them.

Between 2007 and 2016, deaths from falls increased 30% for older adults, and in 2020, $68 billion in direct medical costs were attributed to falls.

Finally, 26% of all adults over age 18 have some sort of disability — including issues of mobility, cognition, hearing or vision, or the inability to live independently or take care of themselves — and 85% of them were developed over the course of a lifetime. So, creating safe, accessible spaces is a win-win for everyone.

“Investing in the home is investing in the people who live there and their families and friends who visit,” Stapperfenne said, noting that she often gets some resistance from clients when they think about the aging process. To get around the resistance, she approaches the topic by talking about the return on investment for remodeling using CLIPP (Certified Living In Place Professional) principles. 

In 2020, the average cost of remodeling an upscale bathroom was about $67,000, with ROI of 57%, according to the Living In Place Institute. CLIPP remodeling averaged around $35,000 and had ROI of 62%, she said. 

She offered 10 ways to remodel using CLIPP design strategies and enhance the safety of any home.

1. Zero Threshold Entry Doors: True no-barrier doorways reduce tripping hazards between rooms, inside-to-outside, and make using a mobility-assisting device, like a walker or wheelchair, smooth.

2. Leave Plenty of Room: A 48-inch-wide stairwell allows for the addition of a stairlift and still offers room for an aide to accompany the rider. Stairways should have handrails on both sides, and the handrails should extend the full length of the stairs. Hallways ideally should be 48 inches wide, and doorways at least 36 inches.

3. Install Higher Electrical Outlets: Raising electrical outlets to 24 inches above the floor means less bending to reach a plug, and therefore less back strain. For dimmers, a slide works best, compared to a knob that might be difficult to grab and turn.

4. High Contrast from Floor to Wall: Using a dramatic color contrast from floors to walls helps with balance and establishes sight lines. A contrasting tile color run horizontally is also a useful design element in the bathroom and shower, also helping with balance.

5. Non-Slip flooring: Reduce the likelihood of slipping by avoiding high-gloss floor finishes and tiles. Coatings may be applied to many stone surfaces, including porcelain, travertine, granite, concrete, ceramic, slate, terrazzo and more, to increase static friction and make a slippery floor safer.

6. Bathroom Precautions: Install stylish grab bars to avoid an institutional look. Put them around the toilet, place a vertical bar at the entry to the shower and another one in the shower. “But don’t call them grab bars,” Stapperfenne advised. “Call them accessories.”

Shower controls should be near the entry of the shower, so the user can hold the bar while adjusting water and going in and out of the shower. Avoid tripping with a zero-threshold entry— no steps in the shower — and use a trench or linear floor drain. “There are kits for raising the floor during the remodeling process, including center drains,” she added. Grab bars should be properly installed to support up to 400 bounds of static weight. Also, consider a personal hygiene toilet seat to assist individuals with compromised reach or flexibility.

7. Avoid High-Contrast or Busy Patterns on Floors: A busy pattern or multicolor rug or floor surface can create optical illusions and be very disorienting, affecting balance and causing a fall.

8. Hardware: Make sure cabinet hardware and appliance handles do not catch clothing, which can throw someone off balance. Levers are much easier to operate than doorknobs, but ensure that the lever handles have end returns. This is beneficial and easier to use for anyone, whether it’s someone with compromised grip or a parent holding a child in one arm and a package in the other. The return prevents clothing, straps or bags from being snagged, while a straight handle allows a hand to slide off the end.

9. Lighting: Use night lights throughout the home. They can be on sensors and only illuminate when the room is dark. LED lights are efficient and last a long time, and the cost to operate a night light can be as low as 5 cents per year.

10. Elevators and Lifts: If space and budget allow, consider elevators and vertical platform lifts. Even if these are not desired at the moment, install utilities and structural support while the walls are open. This will save time and money later.

There are many other innovations currently available or coming to market soon that can help seniors live independently, in their own homes, for a longer period. Some of these include voice commands for faucets and other appliances, sensors that track and learn movement patterns in the home, and can alert a family member if movement is unusual or if it appears someone has fallen.

“Educate yourself, get certified, build awareness,” said Stapperfenne, “and do this every day, for every client. You only get one shot with someone’s safety.”

For more information on CLIPP certification, contact the Living In Place Institute here.

To see the most recent NKBA List on trends in biophilic design, click here.