What does it mean for your residents’ housing needs?
One of the major areas of financing for Lancaster Pollard Mortgage Company is the preservation of affordable senior housing through the acquisition and rehabilitation of existing affordable housing units.  For many projects, tenants have “aged in place” and are well into their 70s and 80s. This phenomenon, also known as “naturally occurring retirement communities,” necessitates changes to assure tenants can  maintain their quality of life.

Research by the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that home modifications and repairs may prevent 30 percent to 50 percent of all home accidents among seniors, including falls that take place in these older homes.

Before home modifications, the owner should evaluate the residents’ current and future needs by going through the home room by room and answering a series of questions to highlight where changes might be made. You can begin the survey by examining each area of the home and asking the following questions:

Appliances, Kitchen, Bathroom
• Are cabinet doorknobs easy to use?
• Are stove controls easy to use and clearly marked?
• Are faucets easy to use?
• Are all appliances and utensils conveniently and safely located?
• Can the oven and refrigerator be opened easily?
• Can the resident sit down while working?
• Can the resident get into and out of the bathtub or shower easily?
• Is the kitchen counter height and depth comfortable for the resident?
• Is the water temperature regulated to prevent scalding or burning?
• Would the resident benefit from having convenience items, such as a handheld showerhead, a garbage disposal?

Closets, Storage Spaces
• Are the closets and storage areas conveniently located?
• Are the closet shelves too high? Can the resident reach items easily?
• Does the resident have enough storage space?
• Has the resident gotten the maximum use out of the storage space they have, including saving space with closet shelf systems and other products?

Doors, Windows
• Are the doors and windows easy to open and close?
• Are the door locks sturdy and easy to operate?
• Are the doors wide enough to accommodate a walker or wheelchair?
• Do the doors have peepholes or viewing panels? If so, are they set at the correct height for the residents to use?
• Is there a step up or down at the entrance to the home? If so, is the door threshold too high or low for the resident to get in or out easily?
• Is there enough space for the resident you to move around while opening or closing your doors?

Driveway, Parking
• Is the unit’s parking space always available?
• Is the parking space close to the entrance of your home?

Electrical Outlets, Switches, Safety Devices
• Are light or power switches easy to turn on and off?
• Are electrical outlets within reach and properly grounded to prevent shocks?
• Can the doorbell be heard in every part of the house?
• Does the unit have smoke detectors throughout?
• Does the unit have an alarm system?
• Is the telephone readily available for emergencies?
• Would the residents benefit from having an assistive device to make it easier to hear and talk on the telephone?

Floors
• Are all of the floors in the home on the same level?
• Are all floor surfaces safe and covered with non-slip or non-skid materials?
• Does the unit have scatter rugs or doormats that could be hazardous?

Hallways, Steps, Stairways
• Do all of hallways and stairs have smooth, safe surfaces?
• Do stairs have steps that are big enough for the entire foot?
• Does the unit have handrails on both sides of the stairway?
• Are the stair rails wide enough to be grasped securely?
• Would the resident benefit from building a ramp to replace the stairs or steps inside or outside of the home?

Lighting, Ventilation
• Does the unit have night-lights where they are needed?
• Is the lighting in each room sufficient for the use of the room?
• Is the lighting bright enough to ensure safety?
• Is each room well ventilated with good air circulation?

This list is not a substitute for professional evaluation by an architect or other licensed professional but is an effort to help an owner or manager enhance their sensitivity to the issues that may be affecting the quality of life of their residents.  It also can certainly be used to help you decide if now is the time to address some of these needs through a rehabilitation loan.

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