Home modifications allow seniors to remain comfortably in their homes enjoying their typical day to day activities despite the lifestyle changes that come with aging. Listed below are home modification ideas:

Prevent trips and falls by:

Quick Checklist to help spot difficulties with senior citizens in their homes:

• Changes. On visits to your parents’ home, look for any changes that are out of the ordinary. Trust your observations and instincts if something bothers you. Ask neighbors if they’ve noticed changes. Make a doctor’s appointment and go with your relative to report concerns.
• Balance. Do you notice unsteadiness and balance problems that may cause a fall? Are there bruises that may indicate previous falls? Do you notice signs of substance abuse, confusion or frailty that might cause falls?
• Cleanliness. Has personal hygiene deteriorated? Are clothes, hair, nails or skin soiled or unkempt? Do teeth need cleaning? Is there body odor? Explore causes, including fear of using bathtub or shower, incontinence, vision loss, declining sense of smell, depression, lack of social life and forgetfulness.
• Neatness. Is a formerly fastidious housekeeper now living in a cluttered, dirty or disorderly home?
• Food. Is there nutritious food in the fridge and kitchen cabinets? Is food poor quality or spoiled or out of date? Is the pantry bare? Are there prepared frozen or fresh options? Is the kitchen messy, with unwashed dishes and pans? Any evidence of burned food, counters, stove backs, pot holders or dishtowels that indicate safety hazards? Does the senior have burns?
• Weight. Notice weight loss or gain. Inquire about difficulties using kitchen equipment and cabinets, poor eating habits such as subsisting on canned soup or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, loneliness, forgetfulness, boredom about eating alone, diminished taste, skipped meals or other physical or cognitive conditions.
• Meds. Are prescription pills and other routine drugs disorganized and out of date? Is the senior vague about compliance with medication schedules? Do dates and dosages on pill bottles match what’s in the bottles? These point to medication mismanagement.
• Money. Does this formerly organized person have piles of unopened bills, overdue notices, disorderly records, twice-paid bills, unpaid taxes? Has she loaned money to  friends, relatives, neighbors, caregivers or others who are preying on her?

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Coping with change is difficult, no matter how old you are. The particular challenge for older adults is the sheer number of changes and transitions—including the loss of friends, family, your career, your health, and even your independence. It’s natural to feel those losses. But if that sense of loss is balanced with positive ingredients, you have a formula for aging well.

Healthy aging means continually reinventing yourself, finding new things you enjoy, learning to adapt to change, staying physically and socially active, and feeling connected to your community and loved ones. Unfortunately, for many, aging brings anxiety and fear instead. How will I take care of myself? What if I lose my spouse? What is going to happen to my mind? However, many of these fears stem from myths about aging that are exaggerated or simply untrue. The truth is that you are stronger and more resilient than you may think.

Driver safety can often be a sensitive issue for seniors. A driver’s license signifies more than the ability to drive a car; it is a symbol of freedom and self-sufficiency. Understandably, driving is not a privilege that anyone wants to relinquish willingly. Still, safety must come first.

Some older drivers may be aware of their faltering ability, but still be reluctant to give up driving completely. Another person’s concerns may force the senior driver to act. They may even feel relieved to have someone else help make the decision to stop driving. Some seniors may forget that they aren’t supposed to drive. If that is the case, it is even more important to remove the car or the keys to make it impossible to drive. If you find yourself in the position of talking to an older friend or family member about their driving, remember the following:

If you have already retired or are approaching retirement, what should you do to make yourself safe & smart regarding healthcare, regular income, living space, insurance and financial products?

A key ingredient in the recipe for healthy aging is the continuing ability to find meaning and joy in life. As you age, your life will change and you will lose things that previously occupied your time and gave your life purpose. For example, you may retire from your career or your children may move far away. But this is not a time to stop moving forward. Later life can be a time of exciting new adventures if you let it.

Healthy aging means finding activities that you enjoy

Everyone has different ways of experiencing meaning and joy, and the activities you enjoy may change over time. If you’re not sure where to get started, try some of the following suggestions:

There is no doubt that grandchildren are one of the joys of growing old. It's often said that they are better than our own children because we can give them back when we have done our bit with them.



It is a great joy when they run to you with their arms outstretched for you to pick them up and when they smile at you just for cuddling them. Grandchildren can be fulfilling and extremely satisfying; they give us a feeling of belonging and of helping our family as well as giving us hours of joy.

Sometimes unsafe signs can come up gradually, or a recent change in health may hasten problems. Even if the individual warning signs seem minor, together they can add up to a substantial risk. If you are concerned about your own driving or concerned about a friend or loved one, keep an eye out for these warning signs:

Issues with health

Health problems don’t always mean that driving needs to be stopped, but they do require extra vigilance, awareness, and willingness to correct them. Some health problems include:

Aging does not automatically equal total loss of driving ability. There are many things you can do to continue driving safely, including modifying your car, the way you drive, and understanding and rectifying physical issues that may interfere with driving.

Take charge of your health