Home Services for the Elderly

Currently there are over 40 million Americans over the age of 65. Due to better quality of life and

access to better healthcare, seniors are living longer and staying in their homes well into their

golden years. As these seniors grow older their need for help becomes inevitable. Home

healthcare, transportation and personal care services are the most common services people

think of when thinking of senior home care. Many, however, fail to consider house cleaning

services and home repair services, both of which can significantly impact the health and

wellbeing of seniors. Below are a few things to consider when you or a loved one is

contemplating these senior home care services.

House Cleaning Services

A recent survey of people over the age of 75 revealed that 95% of them planned to stay in their

homes indefinitely. Although some have little or no trouble performing basic household chores

most seniors find such tasks gradually more difficult as they age which increases the likelihood

of serious injury. According to the Center of Disease Control (CDC), each year approximately

one in three adults over 65 suffers from a fall related injury each year. Falls are not only the

most common cause of nonfatal injuries and hospital admissions for trauma, but also the

leading cause of injury death in adults over the age of 65.

One way to help prevent injuries and provide some relief to seniors living at home is to hire a

regular cleaning service to help with chores they are no longer able to do themselves. In

addition to helping a senior keep their home clean and improving a senior’s quality of life, a

house cleaning service also provides seniors an opportunity for social interaction. Often seniors

become less able to leave their homes as they get older, leading to loneliness and depression.

Regular interaction with others, even occasional visits from a house cleaning service, can help

to reduce these feelings of loneliness.

Home Repair, Maintenance and Modification Services

As any homeowner knows, owning a house involves regular repair and maintenance. In the

case of those over the age of 65 this is especially true. The Administration on Aging reports that

the median age of homes owned by seniors is 43 years and at least 5% of these homes have

significant physical issues. As seniors get older they often find themselves unable to keep up

with regular maintenance and repairs, the need for which only increases as homes get older.

Such issues, when left unrepaired, can create much larger problems over time and eventually

making a home uninhabitable.

When seniors are unable to perform home maintenance or repairs they must turn to a home

repair service for assistance. In recent years however, there has been a significant increase in

the number of seniors being targeted by less than reputable home repair services. Finding and

developing a relationship with a respected home repair service prior to the need for repairs is

one way seniors can avoid being targeted by a home repair scam.

Along with regular home repair and maintenance, seniors may also require some home

modifications as they age. While modifications vary from home to home and person to person,

they all fall into two main categories:

Safety - Installation of a senior friendly bath tub or adding hand rails to stairways are but a few of the safety modifications that can help prevent a senior from injury.

Accessibility - As a senior ages they may require a cane, walker or wheelchair to help

them get around. Modifications allowing them to easily and safely maneuver within their home is essential.

With regular home maintenance, repair and modification from a trusted home repair service a

senior can avoid serious injury and enjoy a higher quality of life in their home for years.

Vacant Interiors of Denver has been providing a wide variety of professional services,

including house cleaning and denver handyman services, to its customers since 2004. Vacant

Interiors specializes in cleaning, trash removal, painting, carpeting or vinyl flooring, tile work,

repair services and more. They are also EPA-certified in lead remediation. For more information

on Vacant Interiors, please call 303-472-8026 or visit http://www.vacantinteriorsdenver.com.