What have you done to make the home safe/safer as we age?
 

I know we need to add grab bars, but am curious where/why from some who have already done it.

My current focus is mainly the master bath/shower/tub/potty.

Aren't they all the same???

Grab bars and taking my time.

We added under cabinet lighting, a UPS for the electric recliners, additional fire/smoke detectors (garage and laundry room). Added on grab bar in the walk in shower years ago. We have 5 wireless landline phones so we are always close to a phone. Added weather alert radio a few years ago, and made a plan for severe weather.

Have a circle of friends that check-in everyday with a Text & and a set time! Lever style door handles, grab bars and keep a cell phone handy! Keep your front door unlocked so the Paramedics can enter your home easier...

When buying a house we only looked for showers that were walk in with zero lip to get in and out. That is all we have done.

Re: front door unlocked
Yet another issue with my wife not worth fighting or even discussing.
Your door lock, security etc. We assume someone breaking into your home will care about damage to your paint etc. Simply that is not the case. Fast in fast out is the only goal.

My wife insists we lock the screen door on the birdcage every night.

Grab bars. Be sure they are properly installed. If steel framing it requires different hardware
than wood framing. Someone is selling grab bars that are supposed to attach with suction cups. HUH, that is nuts.

As I've said regularly. It is an adventure. I do not do marriage counseling-no surprise. Do not forget it does not matter, race, creed, religion, wealth etc etc etc. Women do not think as men do and men to do think as women do.

We double-dosed the Shark Grip when we had the driveway redesigned to prevent a slip and fall. It didn't work too well.

Called the contractor to see exactly what he used and guess what.......he is gone!

Live and learn. I know better I should have checked the material.

Last week had a problem with all of our smoke detectors going off and the rest going off in sympathy and we could not shut them off.

To make a long story short fire dept came and took care of it and checked all of our detectors. Turns out the one starting to beep had reached the end of its life and another one was 10 years old and needed replacement.

Asked the lieutenant about why no detector in the garage and he said due to carbon monoxide emissions detectors would constantly be going off.

Bought a shot gun

At 3 am I went out of bedroom to check the front door. Mindfully stepped over 85-lb dog lying half in and half out of the bedroom doorway. By the time I came back to the bedroom, I forgot the dog was there. Big brush burn on my arm, and it took two months for the bulge on my elbow to recede. I now have a mini flashlight on my night stand. Little things mean a lot.

Bought a lower recoil shotgun... Wouldn't want to bruise my shoulder... :icon_wink:

We had a similar problem with the smoke detectors (2 am) about 1 - 2 years ago, I bought a contractors pack and the 2 additional CO2 detectors. I had 2 left over and used those for the garage and laundry rooms. Have not had a problem with the false alarms in the garage.

Security Alarm System (Sensors on all doors and windows) and 2 - 9MM Hand Guns.

Yes, but did you find any ammo?

Practice, practice, practice with my handguns. Keep one handy at all times, even in bed, as I have for the last 57 years.

9mm is finally showing up under $0.40/ round. Not the best value but better than $1 per round.

Outdoorlimited.com has consistently had 9 mm around. Targetsportsusa.com is another.

My wife is in a wheel chair, so I've install cameras so I can check on her when I'm out shopping. Alco we have Google Nest Hub, if she needs to get in touch with me all she has to do is tell it to call me and it's a video call.

Re: Ammo
 

There is a good search engine for ammo which apparently I'm not allowed to post??
I highly disagree with leaving anything unlocked, lol ! Even though it's easy to kick in a door, it will give me a few extra seconds to grab one of the staged guns around the house.
This is actually a good thread, made me remember that we have no fire extinguishers in our new Patio Villa. Looks like a trip to Lowes is in order .

Guns
 

Because of dementia and depression I suggest getting rid of the guns. I know a family who is now dead because their grandfather shot them all.


I have never heard of a home invasion in The Villages so then the only protection I need his from my wife

First Alert Help Center

About Alarms in Garages, Crawlspaces, and Unfinished Areas
Should I put smoke/CO alarms in my unfinished attic, crawlspace, or garage?
No. We do not recommend installing smoke or carbon monoxide detectors in unfinished areas of the home. This includes attics, crawlspaces, garages, unheated areas, or porches.

The sensors in smoke and CO alarms work best in temperatures between 40° F (4° C) and 100° F (38° C). Alarms in unfinished areas may experience more nuisance alarms due to temperature fluctuations.

To protect an unfinished area of your home like a garage, try a First Alert heat alarm. This type of detector can supplement your smoke alarm system. A First Alert heat detector senses dangerous temperatures of 135° or more.

Pistol grip 20 gauge here loaded with BUCKSHOT which by the way is hard to find now.

Keep a 9 in your nightstand she will never know :bigbow:

You should look at where you walk and items such as bath mats and rugs that could trip you. All you need is one cotton bath mat to step out onto and then hang it up on shower

It’s a new home some everything was done on the interior; lightning protection system on the outside and oh yeah, both my wife and I have become more proficient with our semi-automatic handguns.

They have medication for that mindset.

Years ago, I taught a Matter of Balance class to seniors. I remember a couple of things but not all. Buy a motion sensor night light. It will only go on when you need it and not bother your sleep. Rug outside of the shower should be rubber back so no sliding. If you live alone, while showering, take your phone and leave it where you can reach it (hopefully) in case you do fall and need help. Hope this helps.

OOOF!

Glad I bought a metric ton of it (@ $0.18/rnd) the last time we had an ammo shortage....

I guess you never leave the bubble?

What "mindset" is that?

You should refer to your Tom Petty quote

Grabbar safety
 

Good morning. The proper location and safe installation of grabbars is the cheapest and safest addition to your home as you age. I did both bathrooms and I love them. I really can’t believe how long I lived without them. Also my caregiver is thrilled too.

I used “Grab-bars and More”.

This is a Village based company with over 20,000 installation. They will come out, do an assessment, install and train / demonstrate for proper use. Incredible guys. Very inexpensive. You won’t regret it.

Their number is 352-630-9256.

Highly recommended.

Our home came with grab bars. Added cameras in and out, Alexa will notify if I can’t get to a phone. Had to bring my own SW.

You’re absolutely right. Only use professionals. They have experience in home construction and are trained specifically in grabbars and other safety devices.
Like I said earlier, we loved GrabBars and More, owned by a villager.
They were very knowledgeable and took the time to educate me. Im much more confident now.

You can install a light switch on your outdoor lights with a flashing mode. On/off/flashing then if there is an emergency you can unlock the front door turn on flashing lights so responders know which house quicker.

Handgun under pillow helped a lot.

Are all of these gun remarks serious? A gun is the last thing on our minds...you are not living out in the middle of the woods somewhere or in an inner city area. The houses here look so much alike that your chances of inviting a break in are very low. There are way too many guns and way too much drinking and that is a bad combination. We have motion lights, sturdy rugs that dont slip or bunch up and we lock up whenever we leave.

Remove all rugs, trip hazard.