We are part of a generation that truly believes and often feels that 60 is the new 40 and 70 may be the new 50. The late author Napoleon Hill’s philosophy of “Whatever your mind can conceive and believe it can achieve” is a great mantra for a lot of people who are living and loving life to the fullest and experiencing the joy of being in their homes. It is only the times when our home environment is creating minor glitches that we start asking ourselves, “What can I do to make my environment more livable and adaptable to some of my physical challenges that are starting to creep up?”
Maybe it’s a microwave that is too high to reach. Or perhaps it is the extension of wood flooring from the kitchen to the carpeting in the family room that causes us to stumble or fall at times. Or it may be that we need to renew our living area but we don’t have the budget to have a Martha Stewart clone offer expensive design changes. There is a solution.
QUICK AND INEXPENSIVE FIXES
The first question is what is your budget? Ten dollars or ten thousand? The money you spend on making your home more comfortable should be an investment in your happiness that adds to the future resale value of your home.
As individuals get older, mobility may become an issue. Clutter causes safety concerns. Odors from an old carpet or upholstery can affect how you feel about your living space. The solutions can be as easy as getting rid of the throw carpets you trip over, purging trinkets and mementos that collect dust or steam cleaning carpets and furniture.
There are simple things that can be done relatively quickly, easily and inexpensively:
• Rearrange your furniture so there is more room if you need a cane or a walker.
• Get rid of that big bureau in the bedroom that you never use and are always hitting your hip on. Move it to another bedroom to store winter sweaters or donate it to charity.
• Purge the things left behind from your kids and give them a big box to take home with them.
• Remove heavy drapes from windows and move furniture so you are looking out at the vista and letting the sun shine in.
• Knock down the wall that is separating your dining room from you living room; it really isn’t that expensive to do and it will seem like you can breathe and expand into a wonderful openness.
• Put in a comfort-height toilet seat that will help you get up when you are down on the throne.
• Go to the paint store and choose colors you love to refresh the walls in your home.
• Remove lights in ceiling fans and get new floor lamps or table lamps that gently light your rooms to make you feel relaxed and content in your surroundings.
• Change the levers on your doors to pulls, which are easier on your hands.
When you concentrate on all of your senses — including your sense of well being — the adjustments you mmake in your home will add value to your property and to your psyche. Other improvements, such as lower- ing cabinets or adding a first floor bedroom, can take a little more of your budget. But there are ways to fund this and the payoff will come back to you when it comes time to sell your home.
For more information and tips, Mineff is spearheading a resource group called Environmental Well Being of Aging. The organization includes over a dozen individuals offering products, services and information on helping you with the journey of your life and supporting the philosophy of staying in your home by tapping into resources that provide solutions for your challenges. To request a brochure and additional information, contact Mineff at 440-759-9094 or [email protected].
