By Charles Etgen – Certified Aging in place consultant
Falls are the second leading cause of accidents in the home and account for 8.9 million trips to the emergency room every year. Fortunately, most are preventable. With a few simple changes around the house, you can reduce your risk greatly. According to the National Safety Council there are lots of preventative measures that you can take to reduce your risk of becoming a statistic. Key problem areas include stairs and under lit, wet or cluttered areas.
1. KEEP THAT FLOOR CLEAN AND CLEAR
Clean up messes, spills and debris immediately. Clean up the things that naturally clutter the floor. Newspapers, books, shoes should all be put away. Reduce the clutter and you won’t have to tap dance so much.
2. BANISH THE CORDS
Tie up those computer cords and television cords and modem cords and… All those cords can cause a nasty fall. Draw them together and tie them off.
3. NON-SKID AREA
Use throw rugs and a non-skid bottom in areas that can be slippery such as kitchens and bathrooms. Consider putting down a permanent non-skid surface that can’t be removed.
4. LET THERE BE LIGHT
Upgrade the lower wattage bulbs to higher ones so you can see where you are stepping. Install night lights along whatever hallways or rooms you may use at night.
5. KEEP A STURDY STEP-STOOL AROUND
in case you need to reach higher shelves. Better yet keep your most used items shoulder height.
6. BATHROOM SAFETY
Most likely the worst room in the house is the bathroom. We have already discussed a few things you can do but what about the tub? That’s a big step and for a lot of people a dangerous one. Consider these solutions: You can replace your tub with a walk-in shower or you can opt for a solution growing in popularity called The TubCut™. Here the existing tub is cut and a section is removed. Pieces are fit into place converting your tub into a walk-in shower and can be done in one day with no demolition. A Permanent Non skid surface on the floor of the tub and a few Safety Grab bars in the tub area as well as by the toilet these installations at the very least should be applied in the bathroom.
“The TubCut™ is custom fitted to each tub and gives a finished look, is weight bearing and reversible,” said Paul Echavarria of Access Designs. “We have been installing TubCuts™ for decades and we have dealers throughout out the USA & Canada.”
Barti Contracting—Custom Craftsmanship & Construction Solutions
Barti Contracting, Inc is a contracting firm out of Cape Coral, Florida. We specialize in both commercial and residential from large remodels to new home construction. Ron and Michelle, husband and wife team, started Barti with the hopes of bringing your dream home to life. Whether you need a kitchen upgrade, addition or full remodel, we do it all.
Barti Contracting’s Services Provided
Attic Conversion, Basement Remodeling, Bathroom Remodeling, Concrete Construction, Countertop Installation, Crown Molding Installation, Custom Home, Deck Building, Garage Building, General Contracting, Guesthouse Design & Construction, Home Additions, Home Extensions, Home Gym Design & Construction, Home Remodeling, Kitchen Remodeling, Multigenerational Homes, New Home Construction, Outdoor Kitchen Construction, TubCut™, Pool House Design & Construction, Project Management, Workshop Design & Construction
Areas Served
Bonita Springs, Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Ft Myers, Ft Myers Beach, Matlacha, Matlacha Isles-Matlacha Shores, McGregor, North Fort Myers, Punta Gorda, Estero, Sanibel
Testimonials:
“Ronnie is meticulous to details and his work is impeccable. I had my master bathroom gutted and am very happy with the results. His wife Michelle was so helpful in organizing the details and keeping me informed when the next steps were going to happen. I am extremely pleased and will have other contracting jobs by this company. They are a fun couple and dedicated to their company.”—Kathy K.
“Barti Contracting is a wonderful family run company. Ron and Michelle and their employees are professional, honest and go beyond the norm to accommodate their customers. The quality of their work is of the highest order and this praise comes from a perfectionist. I was so happy with the extensive remodeling of my recently purchased condo. They also accommodated me when I had last minute requests and other projects.”—Belle H.
TheTubCut™ is available throug Barti Contracting Inc. To find out more, please call 239-224-2740.
Barti Contracting Inc.
FL License #CGC1526018
239-224-2740
www.tubcut.com
www.thelimitedmobility.com