People should question whether halls and doorways would be wide enough for a walker or wheelchair to get through, he said. Arbach's own home was made with 3' doorways and 4' hallways. She also took care with decorative items, and even useful things like end tables and her kitchen island, so they would not get in the way if she eventually needs a walker, for example. Also important is a large bathroom with a wide doorway and grip bars in the shower, or a way to convert the tub into a shower or to install a slide-in seat for the tub. Essential to any bathroom, hallway or stairway is good lighting, something Arbach noticed in her outreach job.
Good lighting helps people see steps down, rugs or other obstacles.
Throw rugs should be removed if someone is having trouble walking or seeing, because they are a common cause of falls, and a higher toilet is easier to get on and off, she said. One of the most dangerous rooms in the house is the bathroom so you're going to want your safety rails in place. Another common difficulty for the elderly is opening doors and turning on faucets that have rounded handles. Residents can call an occupational therapist at the local medical center, home health agency or rehabilitation center and ask for an in-home assessment, she said. Such an assessment is important, she said, because each person's situation is different.