A couple of years ago, my brother and I decided to make some renovations to our mother’s home, thinking that she would eventually move into an assisted living facility, and that we would need to sell her home.

I ended up working with a contractor who specializes in accessibility renovation. I didn’t know what ‘accessibility renovations’ meant! Accessibility renovation is preparing your home to be fully accessible regardless of physical limitations. Doorways that are wide enough for a wheelchair, bathrooms with grab bars to prevent falls, and many other modifications.

Later I learned that about 85% of accessibility renovation calls are made after someone has fallen or hurt themselves instead of before the accidents occur. The National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov) has identified that falls are the leading cause of injury death among older adults and that direct medical costs associated with falls are in the billions of dollars each year.

The National Center suggests that there are four key areas to address in fall prevention and home safety:

• Education about fall risk factors
• Physical and mental stimulation
• Medication review
• Home modification to reduce fall hazards

Don’t wait until you have an accident to get your home renovated for accessibility. Renovate your home to keep yourself safe and to avoid ‘falls and spills’ before they happen.

For a referral to a home ‘accessibility renovations’ specialist call Senior Health at 757-217-0330.