Elaine

Creating an organized and clutter free home environment for the elderly and physically challenged is essential to their comfort and safety. Modifying the home for their specific needs will create a highly functional environment allowing this special population to live independently. Each room of the home needs to be assessed for its challenges.

Kitchens:

The more accessible kitchen storage spaces are, the easier it will be to put things away and the less likely clutter will pile up.

Living Rooms and Hallways:

Living rooms and hallways may require some modifications to reduce the ammount of furniture and other clutter that could be a mobility hazard.

Bedroom:

In the bedroom, the major areas where clutter collects are around the bed and in the closet resulting from poorly designed storage.

Bathrooms:

Bathrooms are the most challenging rooms in the house. These changes are essential for ensuring safety.

Paperwork

Staying on top of paperwork may seem like a real challenge when mobility is an issue - but an organized system makes things easier.

These are small changes that can be made for minimal expense. When cost is not an issue, new innovative solutions using universal design are available. Cabinets, cooktops and sinks that can be modified to be height adjustable at the push of a button. Doorway opening can be enlarged to 32" - 36" to accomodate walkers and wheelchairs. The marketplace today offers a tremendous array of poducts to help provide solutions to make independent living easier. These products, combined with simple adjustments in the home, can create a safe, organized and accessible environment.

For those on medication, pill organizers eliminate the guesswork. Keep an organized filing system in the home with current information on medical and insurance information, financial files on investments. social security and disability benefits. Having this information accessible and organized will expedite its retrieval should an emergency arise.

Items in a well planned home should be placed in logical locations, making maintenance simple. For those with vision problems, finding things where they are supposed to be is essential for the home to run smoothly and safely. Clothing rods in the closets. placed at reachable heights, will prevent strains from reaching or falls from climbing. Possessions scattered all over the house could cause a fall or make an area of the house completely inaccessible. For this special population, being organized is not only helpful, it can be a lifesaver

Susan Fox is a professional Organizer with Chaos 2 Comfort in Atlanta Georgia. Chaos 2 Comfort has the expertise to help you organize ever room in your home, from attic to basement and everything in between. Please visit our website at http://www.chaos2comfort.net