California's Palo Alto Online (10/22) reports, "Eighty-six-year old Violette Bragg is losing her eyesight to glaucoma. She has lived in the same Palo Alto house for the past 47 years and feels fortunate that she is so accustomed to the space and that she lives with her son and daughter." Still, Ms. Bragg falls in her home often... an experience that is typical for older adults. Studies "show that more than one-third of all adults over 65 suffer a fall each year." But "many of these accidents could be avoided by taking pre-emptive remodeling action at home." Among the changes made by the Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Ms. Bragg's home were removing all the scatter rugs, adding "grab bars in the bathroom, a mat in the tub...and a hand-held shower hose." Also, "for seniors who have to deal with staircases, suggestions include putting a light switch at both the bottom and top, securing rails and installing non-slip skids."
ASID Design Daily Newsletter 22Oct08