Hi there. You want to stay in your North Vancouver home for a long time. This is called aging-in-place. It is a good goal. You know your neighbors and your garden. You like your view of the mountains. But houses change as we get older. A small step becomes a trip hazard. A dark hallway becomes a danger zone. You can fix these things now. You can make your home safe and easy to live in. Follow these five simple steps.
Step 1: Brighten every corner
Darkness causes falls. North Vancouver gets many gray days. Your home needs more light. Walk through your house. Look for dark spots. Check the hallways first. Check the stairs. Check the entryways.
Replace your old light bulbs. Buy bright LED bulbs. They last for years. You will not need to climb a ladder to change them often. Install motion-sensor lights in the bathroom. These turn on when you walk in. You will not fumble for a switch at night. Add strip lighting under your kitchen cabinets. This helps you see the counter when you cook.
Check your stairwells. Put a light switch at the top of the stairs, then put another switch at the bottom. You should never walk on stairs in the dark. Put a bright light outside your front door. It helps you find your keys. It helps you see the steps when you come home from Lonsdale Quay.
Step 2: Fix the floors
Floors should be flat and clear. Trip hazards are everywhere. Start in the living room. Look at your rugs. Rugs are the biggest danger. The edges curl up. You catch your toe, then you fall.
Pick up every throw rug in the house. Roll them up. Give them away or store them. If you must keep a rug, use double-sided tape. Stick the edges to the floor. Make sure the rug does not move when you step on it.
Look at your cords. Lamps and TVs have long wires. Move the furniture to cover the wires, then clip the wires to the baseboards. Never run a cord across a walkway.
Clear the clutter. Pick up the stacks of books. Move the plant pots out of the path. Create a wide lane through every room. You should be able to walk without twisting your body. In North Vancouver, we have many muddy boots. Keep your entryway clear of shoes. Put a bench in the mudroom. Sit down to take off your boots.
Step 3: Upgrade the bathroom
The bathroom is the most dangerous room. Water makes every surface slippery. You need to add grip.
Buy grab bars. Do not use towel racks for balance. Towel racks pull out of the wall. Grab bars bolt into the studs. Put one bar inside the shower. Put another bar next to the toilet. This helps you sit and stand.
Add non-slip mats to the tub. Put a rubber mat on the floor outside the shower. If you have a high tub, think about a walk-in shower. It removes the big step. You can also add a shower chair. Sit down while you wash. It saves your energy. It keeps you steady.
Check your water heater. Set the temperature to 49 degrees Celsius. This prevents burns. Older skin is thinner and burns faster. Randall can help you check the settings.
Step 4: Change the hardware
Small parts of your house can be hard to use. Round door knobs are difficult. You have to grip and twist. This hurts if you have arthritis.
Buy lever handles. They are long and flat. You push down to open the door. You can use your elbow if your hands are full. Swap every door knob in your house for a lever. Do the front door, the bedroom doors, and the bathroom door.
Look at your kitchen. Check the cabinet handles. Tiny knobs are hard to pull. Replace them with D-shaped pulls. You can fit your whole hand through a D-pull.
Check your faucets. Twist handles are hard to turn. Switch to a single-lever faucet in the kitchen. Switch to lever handles in the bathroom. These changes make daily tasks easy. You will not struggle to wash your hands or open the pantry.
Step 5: Master the entrance
The entrance to your North Vancouver home is important. Many homes here have stairs. Stairs get slippery when it rains.
Check your handrails. A handrail should be on both sides of the stairs. It should be solid. Wiggle the rail. If it moves, tighten the screws. If you do not have rails, install them today.
Look at the porch. Add non-slip tape to the edge of every step. This adds traction. If the stairs are too hard, think about a ramp. A ramp is great for groceries. It is great for walkers.
Keep your path clean. Moss grows on North Shore walkways. Moss is like ice when it is wet. Power wash your sidewalk. Remove the green slime. Clear the leaves in the fall. A clean path is a safe path.
How Randall can help
Making these changes takes time. You might need tools you do not have. You might not want to climb a ladder. That is why Randall The Handyman is here.
We serve North Vancouver and West Vancouver. We visit homes in the West End, Yaletown, and East Vancouver too. We know how to install grab bars. We know how to swap door handles. We can fix your lighting and clear your paths.
Our pricing is simple. We charge $120 for the first hour of work. We charge $85 for every hour after that. We work fast and we do it right. We are licensed and insured. We have a 5-star rating on Google.
Start today
Do not wait for a fall to happen. Look at your home now. Pick one room. Start with the bathroom or the hallway. Make a list of what you need. Buy the bulbs and the bars.
Call us at 604-442-5142. Tell us you want to make your home safer. We will come to your house in North Vancouver. We will bring our tools and our experience. You can stay in the home you love. You can be safe and comfortable for many years.
Pick up the phone and call Randall. Let's get to work.
