Aging in Place by Room - Part 2 - Exterior

By Anna Hazard

Introduction

While it usually does not get as much focus as retrofitting the inside of a household for aging in place, maintaining the exterior of a home can be particularly burdensome to the point that many seniors move to living arrangements that do not require outside maintenance (such as apartments or condominiums), have smaller grounds for easier upkeep, or make arrangements for others to maintain the home exterior (such as hiring people to mow the lawn or shovel snow).
 
In general, more falls occur outdoors than indoors across all age groups and in particular, nearly 2/3rds of all outdoor falls for seniors occur due to controllable environmental factors such as uneven surfaces, tripping hazards, and poorly maintained walkways. To safely age-in-place within a home that comes with its own grounds will require proper preparations in advance.

​Walkways & Paths

All walkways, sidewalks, paths, ramps, as well as the driveway should have even surfaces with all cracks, lips, or potential slippery textures (such as the growth of moss) smoothed down and removed. The surface itself should be slightly textured for proper traction (using anti-slip paint, grit tape, safety treads etc) to help prevent slipping and other accidents, but should remain easy enough for the rolling wheels of a wheelchair, scooter, or walker to move freely over it.
 
Paths should optimally be 3 - 4 feet wide to allow the easy passage of all types of wheelchairs & scooters with wide ends to allow easier turning & maneuvering. No point of any path should be overly steep and possible tripping hazards should be removed from the area. This includes removing potential obstacles that line the sides of the path such as
trimming back any hedges, bushes, trees, shrubs, or other potential sources of growth that may interfere with passage as well as changing out any gravel, woodchips, or bark from lined walkways (or installing curbs along the paths to make certain that loose lining can't fall into the walkway itself to become a potential slipping hazard). During the winter, all paths should be properly salted to remain free of ice & snow.
 
Steep slopes within the landscape should be terraced and outdoor steps should be converted to gently sloping paths or ramps instead. Stairways to the entrances should be replaced with ramps with handrails on both sides (either by removing the steps to build a permanent ramp in its place or using a portable ramp on top of the steps). Hand railings should have a diameter of at least 1.5" inches for easier grasping. Outdoor stair lifts such as vertical platform or porch lifts are also available for homes with extended steps or for those seniors with more severe mobility problems. These types of lifts should be large enough for use with wheelchairs & scooters yet often take up less room than a ramp.

Lighting

Like within the interior of the home, proper exterior lighting is a priority for a senior-friendly household. To further help in fall prevention, all walkways, ramps or steps, and entrances to the home should be well lit with lights that are automatically triggered by motion or by nightfall to make certain that the areas are always well lit when needed. Security lights should also be installed at the corners of the house as well as any other areas of concern (such as exterior trashbins, mailboxes etc).
 
Light fixtures should be installed in areas that are easy to access (preferably low enough to not require the use of a ladder or step stool) for light bulb replacement. The lights themselves such should be aimed downward instead of horizontally to help reduce the production of shadows and to further illuminate any potential tripping hazards. Lights should avoid producing a glare (which can be mitigated by using frosted light bulbs). Lighted street numbers or numbers that are otherwise easy to read during both the day & the night should be installed so that the house is easier to find by both visually impaired seniors or by any emergency personnel that may be called to the household.

​Siding & Outdoor Fixtures

Another major way to help with aging-in-place is to switch necessary exterior elements to materials that are more low maintenance with minimal upkeep. This would include replacing wooden or painted house siding with brick or vinyl  that does not require yearly paint touch-ups and switching to metal roofing or composite decking. Resin based materials for outdoor fixtures such as decks, porches, and stairs or ramps last longer and do not require the maintenance of sealing or painting. In addition gutter covers should be installed to cut down the need for gutter maintenance (as cleaning gutters on ladders can be highly dangerous and should be avoided for fall prevention, especially amongst seniors with brittle bones and balance issues)
 
Yards should be fenced for greater security if possible to help keep out pests such as raccoons or other unwanted elements. Latches and locks can be added for seniors who may have memory or cognition problems and are prone to wandering. Besides a basic safety check of the household's yard and landscape for tripping hazards such as tree roots, uneven ground, holes, rocks, or loose pavement,  easy access should be maintained to outdoor utilities such as electrical panels & transformers, gas or water valves, outdoor spigots for hoses, and fire hydrants by keeping away any encroaching landscape elements from them. All landscaping elements should be low maintenance including outdoor decorations such as statues or fountains or shrubbery & plants.

​View the Rest of the Series

Part 1 - Introduction
Part 2 - Exterior
Part 3 - Landscaping & Gardens
Part 4 -  Patio,  Porch, & Deck
Part 5 - Garage & Carports
Part 6 - Entrances, Exits, & Thresholds
Part 7 - Exterior Steps & Ramps
Part 8 - Threshold Lighting & Windows
Part 9 - Interior Doors & Halls
Part 10 - Interior Steps & Staircases
Part 11 - Interior Stairlifts
Part 12 - Interior Elevators
Part 13 - Living Room
Part 14 - Kitchen