You’ve probably heard a frustrating story about a elderly citizen who, during Covid, can’t be visited by their children, grandchildren, or friends to help them out. There’s a good chance someone close to you has gone through this. Health guidelines have forced many older adults to try to live with more independence than their age allows. There’s a good chance you want to make life easier for them. 

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I’ve been thinking about the same thing, so I want to make accessible to you a few of the best home improvement plans you can bring to elderly citizens’ lives. I want to offer ideas that affect some of their fundamental needs: bathing, getting out of the house and walking outside. 

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Rubberized Paving:

I live in Saskatoon, so the effects of cold and rain on walkways are generally devastating. They often become so slippery that they’re a problem for anyone, and a true hazard for many elderly citizens. That’s why rubberized paving is increasingly popular. Rubberized paving is a durable, flexible, non slip coating that can be easily installed. In one day, rubberized pavement can be installed over your existing driveway, sidewalk, or front steps. It cures in about 24 hours.

Benefits:

• Non-slip, safe to walk on at any temperature.   
• Requires no maintenance and will not crack or fade over time.
• Will not be damaged by snow blowers or snow shovels.

Step-in Bathtubs:

It would be a terrible experience to be unable to bathe oneself without risking injury. That’s why the invention of step-in bathtubs have added to the quality of the lives of many elderly individuals. One can directly enter the bath through a door whose base is level with the floor, without clambering dangerously over the slippery side of the tub. Step-in bathtubs can be installed using the existing plumbing within a few days. Combined with a grip-mat on the tub floor, this can make personal bathing fear-free for many older adults who would otherwise require assistance. 

Benefits:

• Safely get in and out of the bathtub.
• Heated seat and back.
• Massaging jacuzzi jets.

Porch Lifts and Stair Lifts:

Similar to rubberized paving - this is about giving mobility back to older adults. We’ve all seen (or maybe used) these lifts before. They continue to be a staple in the lives of many folks with disabilities because of the freedom they provide, such as the ability to get down porch stairs to be outdoors without assistance. 

Benefits: 

• No major renovations required - Lifts Install over your existing stairs or next to your front porch.
• Prevents injuries caused by slips, trips, and falls.
• Installs within a few days.

Also, the government is helping out too:

The federal government offers a tax credit on home renovations that improve accessibility. Any renovation that improves accessibility or mobility within your primary residence qualifies for the credit. The maximum renovation cost you can claim is $10,000 ($1,500 of your taxes).

Who qualifies:

• Anyone who is 65 or older. 
• Anyone who is eligible to claim the disability tax credit.
• Supporting relatives and caregivers of someone who is over 65 or qualified for the disability tax credit. 

We can find the Service Providers, quotes, and contracts for this:

It’s what we do. In fact, we recently used our Omnee app to assemble a small army of Saskatoon volunteers to clear snow for elderly citizens in the city. If you download the app (it’s free), you can write a description and take a couple pictures so we know what the job is, and we’ll find some excellent Service Providers who will give you competitive quotes for the job. It’s powerful, and easy to use. Try it out. And listen, if you’ve done a project for an elderly citizen using the Omnee app, chat with us about it - we want to be part of your mission.
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