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You and
your home: Aging gracefully together
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[August 24, 2011]
(ARA)
- Aging gracefully is all about taking a proactive approach to your
future well-being - you anticipate the inevitable changes and do
what's necessary to stay healthy and fit.
The same principles are true for your home. You need to assess the
necessary changes that must be made around your home to keep it fit,
and you safe, so you and your home can successfully age together.
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Helping your
home age gracefully doesn't mean adding industrial-looking
apparatuses throughout the house. In fact, with Lowe's
Accessible Home program, you'll never have to sacrifice style
for function. Plus, if you do these projects proactively, you'll
save money in the long run.
Julie Sussman and Stephanie Glakas-Tenet, authors of the
national bestselling "Dare to Repair" series of books, have
teamed with Lowe's to provide you with some can-do projects to
make your home more accessible for everyday living.
* Safety in a shower/tub -- A handheld shower unit is a perfect
solution for anyone who has to sit while showering. Use a
plumber's wrench or an adjustable wrench to remove the old
shower head; if difficult to remove, apply lubricating spray.
Remove any residue from threads on shower arm. Apply Teflon tape
to threads, wrapping it counterclockwise, three or four times.
Place hose of new shower unit onto end of shower arm, turning it
clockwise. Insert hand shower into the shower arm mount,
rotating it to desired spot. Use adjustable wrench to tighten.
Handheld shower units now come in a variety of finishes and
sizes sure to spruce up anyone's shower.
* Getting a better handle on knobs - For anyone who suffers from
arthritis, a lever handle is much easier on the joints than a
knob. Plus, lever handles can dress up the plainest of doors.
Use a screwdriver to remove the screws on the old doorknob.
Insert stems of exterior lever horizontally into the holes in
the latch case. Place interior lever on the protruding spindle,
aligning stems with screw holes. Insert screws and tighten with
screwdriver.
* Avoiding slips - If you can't bear the sight of a bare floor
and don't want to remove the beautiful rugs in your home, you
must properly secure all of them. All rugs, including doormats,
should be secured to the floor with non-skid tape. First, make
sure floor surface is clean and dry. Attach tape to underside of
rug, flip it over and adhere to floor. Don't forget the bathroom
rug.
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* Preventing
falls - A stair handrail is designed to aid in ascending and
descending stairs. But, why stop at having only one handrail per
stairway? Make each stairway more symmetrical and safe by having a
second one installed. Also, be sure to check all handrails in the
home for any that wiggle. Use a screwdriver to tighten any loose
screws. Make sure there is adequate lighting at the top and bottom
of each staircase. Lowe's has a vast variety of lighting in stock to
fit all your needs.
* Providing stability - Today's shower grab bar is not your father's
(or hospital's) grab bar. The choices in style, size, color and
installation will make you wonder why you waited this long to have
one. To install a grab bar, you'll need a drill, the proper drill
bits and the right grab bar. It's easy to install, just be sure to
follow the manufacturer's instructions completely.
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