Elderly people can live longer at home with new technology from fall-proof floors Entertainment / Life

I don’t know about you, but until old age, I have a plan. Plan A is that I will never grow old. Plan B, if I’m too old, I’ll go down swinging.

So, I was encouraged to learn that new technology and forward-thinking designers promise to make aging at home much easier. And, according to a recent AARP survey, 77% of people over the age of 50 want a “spot fix.” (This is to avoid going to a nursing home.)

That percentage jumps to 86% among those over 65, which tells me that the older you get, the more appealing the idea of ​​sitting in a nursing home under someone’s thumb without your car keys.

“Boomers are particularly reluctant to give up their independence,” says interior designer Lisa Sini, owner of Mosaic Design Studio in Columbus, Ohio. “Especially after covid came down and assisted living centers became a place no one visited or went to, boomers were determined to maintain their autonomy.

Learning by doing

She is making it easy for them. After 25 years designing assisted living facilities and remodeling her own Columbus home to accommodate four generations — her and her husband, their two teenagers, her 70-year-old parents and her 92-year-old grandfather with dementia — Sini parlayed her personal and professional knowledge of senior living into a novel project. she did

After her grandfather passed and the children went off to college and work, she found a historic mansion for sale in the city. She bought it and turned it into a nine-bedroom Airbnb designed to accommodate seniors in comfort, safety and style. (I love the style part. If I’m going to grow old in a place, that place has to look good.)

“Besides eliminating trip hazards, adding lighting, widening doors for wheelchairs and walkers, and installing door handles, what else can you do,” I asked Sini over the phone.

a lot of.

High tech answers

Werner Haus Cine has over 50 high-tech features that it maintains through its interior design connections, most of which are seamlessly integrated into the beautiful decor. “Some guests stay, and they don’t know there’s anything unusual,” she added.

In fact, as Cindy gave me a virtual tour, I was amazed that nothing in the 10,000-square-foot property said, “This is for seniors!” It is that there is no cry. All the tech touches are intuitive and functional. In addition to the bedrooms and their adjoining bathrooms, the Airbnb also has a ballroom, a fitness spa and whirlpool, a speakeasy, three kitchens, and a movie and music room.

Opened to guests in April, The Werner House (www.infinite-living.org) is marketed as an Airbnb mission, aiming to strategically market products to those who want to grow in their space and encourage them to embrace the latest technologies. Sini told them to hug at home after their stay. She eventually wants to take the Airbnb concept nationwide.

Here’s a sample of the built-in utilities:

Felt floors: The five suites feature Sole with SensFloor technology from Shaw Floors. The subfloor, which allows any type of surface to pass over it, has built-in sensors that can detect when a person falls and sits on the floor and can send an appropriate alert for help. You can also program the product to turn on the bathroom light when your foot hits the floor.

Noise canceling carpetIn public areas such as the dining room, lounge and living room, the carpet has sound canceling technology. “A lot of seniors have hearing loss, and it’s hard for them to hear, so they stop going out to eat,” Sini said. “The rug attracts the din and makes conversation easier.”

Strong seats: A man who sinks into a low, soft chair and feels as if he needs two men and a crane will find that the cushions on the chairs and sofas in the Werner House are very thick foam and have no seats. It is less than 19 inches. Some upholstered club chairs have beautiful wood and brass hinges on their backs to hold a folding walker.

Full service bathrooms: Adjustable toilets are raised to help guests sit, and lower for ease of use. Toilet paper holders have built-in grab bars, and bidet seats are added to standard toilets to maintain hygiene. “People don’t understand the wonder of a bidet toilet seat,” says Sini. “For $400, anyone can put a bidet seat over a regular toilet and save a lot on toilet paper.”

Synchronous Sync Bathrooms have adjustable sinks that go down to wheelchair height, grab bars on the sides of bathtubs to help people stand and sit, and accessible spa tubs.

Cabinets that come to you: In kitchens, smart cabinets have a mechanism that allows them to be removed from the wall and lowered to your level, which is useful for people who have difficulty reaching and lifting items from the upper cabinets. Once you’ve found what you’re looking for, the cabinet returns.

Kitchen counters are adjustable in height to accommodate a 5-foot woman and her 6-foot husband. “This is a big issue for cutting, it’s about leverage,” Sini said.

“Having a home that will fix you and protect you shouldn’t be out of the question,” she said.

And not now.

Marnie Jameson is the author of six home and lifestyle books. It can be found on her www.marnijameson.com