Aging in place & grab bars

Okay she didn’t say you are getting old. Face it though, we all are.

Before we dive in, thanks to Brittany Hancock, again, for taking the time and having a conversation with us! We were lucky enough to even have one of her dogs make a cameo (although he didn’t make the final cut).

Of the many topics we discussed, aging in place was Brittany’s favorite to talk about and to work on. Tripping hazards and accessibility seemed to be things that often go overlooked. Not in a sense that you don’t consider it, but what tripping hazards and accessibility issues you may run into as you age. For example, the threshold when entering the shower/tub can become a greater challenge. The transition from flooring to carpet in between rooms. Your ability to reach cabinets or counter tops become more difficult as time passes.

Grab bars aren’t what you think they are! They’re those big silver hunks of metal you see in public bathrooms sticking out of the wall. Is that what you were thinking of when you read grab bars? It was? Oh.

Luckily you don’t have to sacrifice aesthetics for practicality purposes nowadays. They’ve become much more streamlined and sleek. They look more like a modern towel bar than they do a giant silver tube. They’re a staple in any home where people intend on living the latter half of their life in.

As Brittany says in the interview, you’re never too old for a grab bar. She even talks about how she broke her leg and that she wishes she had a grab bar at the time. Having fallen in the shower myself, a grab bar would’ve prevented me limping for a couple weeks.

Small things, and even the big stuff, that the average bear tend to overlook is what Brittany and her partner Letia are here for. With years of experience they know what to look for and how to help you stay in your home longer, and comfortably. If you want to extend the stay in your home, and do so effortlessly, reach out to these two with any questions you have.