Electrical Contractors Help Seniors Age In Place for Greater Comfort

(HIT) - As more seniors 65 and older choose to age in place, electrical contractors can help these “younger old adults” remain in their homes with greater safety and comfort. Representing the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population, the U.S. Census Bureau reports that 10,000 new retirees will be added to the Social Security and Medicare rolls every day over the next 20 years.

“While 60 percent of home remodelers already perform aging in place work, more electrical contractors are making adjustments throughout the home to help improve seniors’ everyday functioning, safety and quality of life,” said John Maisel, publisher of Electrical Contractor magazine at www.ecmag.com, published by the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), Bethesda, Md.

Baby boomers aging in place can increase their home's convenience, comfort and safety with various changes that improve lighting, easier access to outlets, switches, and other electrical contractor activities.

Most common sense electrical activities can help homeowners with reduced eyesight by increasing lighting quantity and quality—key for adjusting to light levels and color rendering to help decreased vision.

Electrical contractors’ recommendations, product selections and work can include:

• Raising the ambient light levels to avoid any glare situations, such as unshaded lamps or recessed can fixtures with white trim
• Illuminated switches that are readily visible in a darkened room through light-emitting diode (LED) night lights to help avoid accidents
• Undercounter lighting in kitchens and skylights through unused attic space
• Adding a combination of 75-watt downlights in work spaces
• Lighting switches at each entrance to halls and rooms
• Adding lighting receptacles with two bulbs in vital places (exits, bathrooms)
• Placing lighting switches, thermostats and other environmental controls accessible—no higher than 48 inches from the floor
• Installing electrical outlets 15 inches on center from floor and closer than 12 feet apart
• Providing clear access of 30-by-48 inches in front of switches and controls
• Adding rocker or touch lighting switches
• Audible and visible strobe lighting systems to indicate when doorbell, telephone or smoke/CO2 detectors have been activated
• High-tech security/intercom systems that can be monitored, with heating, A/C and lighting from any TV in the house
• Easy-to-see and –read thermostats
• Preprogrammed thermostats
• Flashing porch light or 911 switch
• Direct wired to police, fire and emergency (as option)
• Home wired for security and computers

Electrical contractors can also help the homeowner plan for future needs with additional wiring and avoid the breaking of walls in the future. They can also work with architects so that closets are stacked for a future in-home elevator.

Published by the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), Bethesda, Md., Electrical Contractor magazine delivers 85,000+ electrical contractors and more than 65,900 electrical contracting locations, more than any other industry publication.  Telephone: (301) 657-3110.  Web site: www.ecmag.com.

Courtesy: Home Improvement News and Information Center

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