Agin g i n Pl ace Safe Deck Design for Seniors
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Safe Deck Design for Seniors Most of us don’t think twice about handrails, or even use them - unless we’re older, or suffer from certain medical issues that make handrails very important. For seniors, or even those with medical issues like arthritis, decreased mobility, heart disease, osteoporosis, or physical disabilities, a handrail, and other deck safety features, can literally be a life saver, if they’re properly designed and installed. Why are handrails so important? Something many of us don’t realize is that handrails for exterior stairs typically end at the bottom step. What makes handrails dangerous is not so much the railing itself, or a lack of a railing, but the fact that you’re more likely to be off balance and fall when you’re stepping off of, or onto a stair. By adding a handrail extension, you can reduce the chance of you, or someone visiting you, falling when getting on or off any
interior or exterior stairway. So, whether you’re building a new deck, or refurbishing an older deck, it just makes sense to go ahead and use an Americans with Disability Act (ADA) approved handrailings, and approved handrail extensions. Why Senior Safety is a Concern According to the US Census, approximately 1 out of every 8 Americans is a senior over the age of 65. As Baby Boomers continue aging, that number is predicted to climb to nearly 1 in 5 by the year 2030. When you combine those growing numbers with the statistic that one-in-three seniors over the age of 65 has a fall each year, you can see why thinking about how to improve your home security - including your yard and deck, is so important. We hope this booklet helps you see your deck in a whole new light! A safer one! 2
Who is At Risk for Falling?
You don’t have to be nursing home age, or physically disabled to be considered a high fall risk. In fact, you just have to be 50 or older. Of course the older we get, the more we lose strength and agility, even if we work out or stay physically active. The simple act of mounting or descending a set of stairs can become tremendously difficult with each decade. A decreased mobility means that falls are more likely and more dangerous. Older bodies do not cope with trauma as quickly or thoroughly as younger bodies. A minor fall can result in a severe injury, such as head trauma, a broken hip or other bones, or even death. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) one in three adults over the age of 65 falls each year.
The CDC also says that among seniors, falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries. •
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Outdoor falls are triggered by uneven sidewalk and street surfaces, curbs and wet or slippery surfaces, or decks with uneven surfaces Falls commonly occur on porches and on decks Poor outdoor lighting contributes to the number of falls Vision problems or glare from the sun Loose or uneven sidewalks, steps and driveways Inadequate or lack of stair railings Patio or deck furniture in walkways Inclement weather creating unsafe conditions (e.g., ice, snow accumulation, mud, etc.)
Falls Are Common, and Can Be Very Serious for Seniors
• One out of five falls causes a serious injury such as broken bones or a head injury. • Each year, 3 million older people are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries. • Over 800,000 patients a year are hospitalized because of a fall injury, most often because of a head injury or hip fracture. • Each year at least 300,000 older people are hospitalized for hip fractures. • More than 95% of hip fractures are caused by falling,8 usually by falling sideways. • Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBI). • In 2015, the total medical costs for falls totaled more than $50 billion.11 Medicare and Medicaid shouldered 75% of these costs. 4
LIFESTYLEMATTERS Safety is more than just installing a handrail, ramp, or non-slip surfaces. It’s a matter of making wise lifestyle choices, and using technology, and helpful devices as well. The bad news is, it’s easy to forget to turn off a propane grill, or to notice if there are still burning embers in a charcoal grill left on a deck. The good news is, there are automatic propane turn-off devices that shut down your propane line automatically after 1, 2, or 3 hours. So even if you forget whether you turned off the gas or not, the device (under $75) will turn it off for you. FireMagic (Amazon.com) is one such device, but there are Above. Photo courtesy of Fire Magic Automatic Propane Shutoff Valve, available on Amazon.com. others.
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SAFE DECK DESIGN Doorways to the deck should have levered handles rather than doorknobs. Levered door handles are easier to use than rounded door knobs, especially for those with arthritis, or strength issues in their hands.
Safe Design Basics
Safe design doesn’t have to be obvious or ugly. You don’t have to turn your house or your deck into something that resembles a nursing home with grab bars everywhere. Safe design can be incorporated into most homes and decks without anyone knowing they’re ADA approved. Even features such as ramps and railings can be built-in as part of the overall design with most visitors never even realizing they’re looking at stateof-the-art safety features!
Open Layouts Work Best. Open layouts should be exactly that - open. This means wide aisles or open areas between furniture groupings, and activity spaces such as grilling areas and tables, or heaters. Keep things like plants, planters, chairs and other features away from stairways, ramps, and high traffic areas such as the entrances or exits to the deck.
Provide Safe Access to the House. Ideally the door to the house and the deck are on the same level to make access and navigation easier for both visitors and those in wheelchairs. The door must be wide enough to easily accommodate a wheelchair [at least 32-inches wide) and not have a raised threshold. If there are steps, a handrail should be installed, even if there is only one step. Any transition in levels - whether it’s a few inches or a full step, should have a handrail.
Lighting Matters. One of the most frustrating things about aging is the diminished ability to see clearly in low light environments. Our depth perception as well as our ability to distinguish features around us changes, and not for the better. That’s why added, and more intense lighting is needed for maneuvering around the deck as well as inside the house. 6
Stair lights, either mounted underneath the steps or installed on the side of steps, can provide a necessary safety element for seniors as well as other guests. Other light fixtures include post mounted lights for general lighting. The use ofwall-mounted fixtures that illuminate access to the deck and path lights that illuminate sidewalks and pathways are helpful for safety (PERS), are other and often required by code. options. Use Technology As Much As Possible The use of security cameras around your home and deck not only allows you to monitor the area for intruders, but can also allow family members to check in and make sure you’re okay. It may seem a little extreme until you’ve slipped and fallen and can’t get up. Personal Emergency Response Services
The original PERS were wearable devices that allowed people to communicate via telephone with a designated service about their condition. 7
PERS Device
Furniture and Furnishings. Furniture should either be heavy and more or less permanently placed, or lightweight enough to move easily. Chairs and/or benches should have arms that allow those using them to “push off, or up” from them as they get up. Avoid seating that is too high (stools) or too low or deep for people to easily get out of. Cushions should be fastened in place so they don’t slide when someone goes to stand up. Avoid placing chairs and furniture pieces so close together that people must squeeze through to get where they’re going. Allow for ample room for wheelchairs, walkers, and those with assistance devices to move around freely and easily. Make sure there’s a place to park their wheelchairs, walkers, canes and other assistance devices as well.
Many products available today can monitor a person’s location, movement, specific activities, and even their vital signs. Advanced PERS systems can shut-off unattended stoves, turn on lights, or call a friend or relative or even emergency services if needed. These devices communicate all the information needed instantly to anyone who requires it through phone, text, web, and email. Costs range from $25 to $100 a month depending on the services wanted or required. Mobile PERS devices can even summon help when the wearer leaves home to shop, attend meetings, or visit family. If a family member is forgetful, wanders off, or must be monitored, a PERS device is also helpful in alerting other family members to the fact the person has left the deck, house, or property, and can help track them.
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Highlight Level and Surface Changes. Just because the deck is used by seniors doesn’t mean it can’t be multi-leveled, or have steps or other features incorporated into the design. However, level changes, and changes from decking to tile, or other surfaces (See below) should be very visible and easy to see. This can mean using a contrasting or brightly colored strip at the edge of the step that leads to another level, or a change in color entirely.
Seniors love the sun too, but hot, sunny spaces can be uncomfortable for some seniors. By adding a permanent shade structure like a pergola or a retractable awning you can make your deck more enjoyable, cooler, and more likely to be used. Overhead fans or freestanding fans set on timers can also help provide cooling and comfort to a deck and are appreciated by users of all ages. Some fans, like the one shown below, also release a cooling mist, making the surrounding area cooler as well. Other options include temporary canopies that can be taken down at the end of the season and large umbrellas that provide shade to dining and seating areas.
Convenient Design Create easy-to-reach surfaces. If builtin planters are part of the design of the area, they should be at a height that is comfortable for the senior. The same holds true for an outdoor kitchen, grilling area, and counters. While stools can add a certain mood and flair to an eating area, can the senior living there get onto and off of a stool easily, or would a different kind of chair be better?
Provide easy-to-move furniture. Outdoor seating often gets moved around a lot as people want to sit near friends, or closer to a deck feature like a fan or heater, pool or hot tub. That’s why, in addition to heavier, more solid furniture, it's best to include lightweight products in the mix. Aluminum, plastic, wicker and even some types of chairs with steel frrames are sturdy and easy to carry or move.
Supply Shade to the Deck. One of the things people love most about decks is the ability to enjoy sunbathing in private.
Think About Heating Options Seniors get cold, even when the rest of the group may feel comfortable. Think about heating options, anything from blankets to propane heaters, and fire features, or overhead heaters that blow warm air over certain areas. Make sure you take into consideration the areas of your deck most likely to be used and in need of added heat. Make sure NOT to use extension cords or heaters that can be tripped over, or heaters that can be fallen into. Keep heaters away from high traffic areas as well.
Photo courtesy of Heatwhiz.com Misting Fan. 9
It’s Not All About Safety You don’t have to have all your deck features be about safety. A lot of the furniture, devices, and things that go on today’s decks can be convenient as well as safe!
Photo courtesy of Welcome Mobility.co.uk
For instance, using a rolling food cart, or “trolley” (See photo above) lets people move food, beverages, and other heavy items across a deck without fear of dropping them. This not only makes it easier to move food, glasses and dinnerware, but means fewer trips to and from the kitchen as well! The use of levered door handles rather than door knobs that must be turned, make it easy for those with arthritis and hand issues as well as those whose hands are full, to easily depress the lever.
Many children as well as seniors have difficulty opening doors that pull towards them. By installing grab bars outside an entryway door you can help them maintain their balance. Hot Tubs and Spas are some of the most popular and “must have” features for a deck - particularly for seniors who love a good hot soak to relax muscles. (Ask for a copy of our Hot Tubs and Spas publication) While hot tubs and spas can be wonderful features, and very enjoyable, don’t forget they involve water and slippery decks. Make sure to have plenty of grab bars, and other safety features, including easy entrance and exit levels, a flat bench to sit on before entering and leaving the hot tub, and a place to hang or place towels that doesn’t force participants to lean or reach for them. 10
Don’t Forget Your Pets Our pets are famous for getting underfoot and tripping us - no matter what our age. But there’s something about decks and pets that makes falls more likely when they’re outside. Maybe they’re chasing a squirrel, or playing with a ball, or just trying to find a shady spot to settle down, or they’re just distracted. Consider installing pet gates that can keep your pets confined to one area of the deck, or inside when there are guests over. This protects your pet as well as anyone who may not be used to avoiding pets. Injury rates are highest among people age 75 and over, but pets are a hazard for people of all ages.
According to WebMD, fractures and contusions or abrasions are the most common pet-related injuries with 66.4% of falls associated with cats and 31.3% associated dogs. Both are related to falling or tripping over the animal. According to a study by the CDC, published in the Journal of Safety Research, shows that dogs and cats contribute to injuries that send an estimated 87,000 people to emergency rooms every year. Dogs are more dangerous to their owners than cats, associated with 7.5 times as many injuries as felines.
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Where Outdoor Living is an Affordable Lifestyle. Contact us today for a free, no obligation consultation. (719) 822-1004, or at AwesomeDecks.net or write us:
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