Future proofing a home to prevent accidents is a minor investment that pays major dividends when compared with the emotional, physical, and financial costs of limb breaks, hospital stays and painful rehabilitation.
Checklist for hazards
It’s smart to have any home assessed for safety hazards, whether you have a growing family, live alone, or have a loved one who is aging in their own place, perhaps even creating an easy transition for yourself.
Perth’s leading residential and commercial property maintenance company, NexGen Tradies and Handymen is experienced in altering interiors and exteriors to improve safety.
A NexGen Tradies team member will go through a list of potential safety hazards, including checking your meter box for an electrical circuit breaker. Electrical cords will be examined for fraying, and smoke alarms will be tested. Cords running over doorways or under rugs are a no-no, so a new power point may be needed to overcome this. Any power point that becomes hot when used is a fire risk.
Light up for safety
Lack of adequate lighting in a home or around its exterior is an accident waiting to happen, especially for seniors, because eyesight becomes poorer with age.
Are light switches within easy reach? Does a hallway need night lights? Are there sensor lights at entries to the home? Is the bathroom lighting bright enough? NexGen Tradies will give you affordable options.
Security systems save lives
Another factor to consider is security. Personal alarms save lives so should be a priority. A cctv system can easily be set up but if you lack the confidence to do it yourself, NexGen Tradies and Handymen will come to your aid at little expense.
As well as eyesight, the senior years affect mobility and strength which means making some structural changes to avoid the danger of falls.
Ramps, rails and wider doors
NexGen Tradies installs ramps, widens doors, makes shower access safer, connects long shower hoses, up to two metres, makes the home wheelchair friendly, and increases the safety in toilets and bathrooms with grab rails. Railings along hallways and from the letter box to the front door encourage independence for seniors, especially those who hate using walking frames, walkers or canes.
For every home, verandas and decks that lack strong, secure railings can result in falls, whether you are young, old, or in between.
Flooring levels & covering
As we age, we may stop lifting our feet as high as necessary to get safely from one floor level to another. Although the difference in the levels may be only a few centimetres, these points need to be corrected or well defined. NexGen Tradies will be able to identify how to make the transitions safer.
If floor covering is needed NexGen Tradies’ can replace old with new without fuss. The combination of carpet and laminate is regarded as a top choice for safety. Carpet pile that is low, dense and tight is best, and laminate needs to be non-slip. Pavers should be included in your safety check in case some are loose or uneven.
Contact NexGen Tradies and Handymen for an obligation free home safety assessment. There is no call out fee and the quote will be fixed. Materials are charged at cost and labour is guaranteed. All trades and handymen are qualified, experienced and have worked in Perth’s suburbs for more than 15 years, from Joondalup in the north to Mandurah in the south, as well as the Hills and eastern suburbs. They are insured with Workers Compensation and Public Liability, and are police cleared.
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