Help Older Residents Feel Safe in Their Homes

Help Older Residents Feel Safe in Their Homes


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Question 1 of 10:


What percentage of people age 50 or older want to live in their current home for as long as they can?

25% 47% 63% 77%


According to the AARP Home and Community Preferences Survey, 77% of people age 50-plus want to keep living in their current home. 

Question 2 of 10:


The AARP HomeFit Guide provides information aobut home modifications and designs that can help make a house, townhouse, apartment or mobile home safer and more comfortable for residents all


ages. 

True False


The AARP HomeFit Guide is about homes — not houses. Most of the suggestions in the guide are doable regardless of home type or ownership status.

Question 3 of 10:


Home safety modifications for aging in place are expensive because the work requires specialized equipment and the skils of professional contractors.

True False


The AARP HomeFit Guide features a wide range of home safety solutions. While some solutions can be complicated and costly, there are many simple, affordable ways to help make a home safer


and more comfortable for aging in place.

Question 4 of 10:


Steps can make a home inaccessible to a person who uses a wheelchair, relies on crutches or has difficulty climbing stairs. The ideal is for all homes to have at least one "zero-step"


doorway for entering and exiting the home. Where should this doorway be located?

A zero-step entrance should be located at the main or front entrance to the home. A zero-step entrance is


best located along the side of the home. A zero-step entrance should be located inside a garage. A zero-step entrance can be located wherever works best for the home or user.


A zero-step entrance and exit can be located at any suitable doorway, including one inside a garage, which provides the bonus of protection from inclement weather. See page 4 of the AARP


HomeFit Guide for more about step-free access into and out of a house or apartment building.

Question 5 of 10:


The ideal height for placing a light switch on a wall is:

18” to 24” from the floor 25” to 35” from the floor 36” to 44” from the floor More than 44” from the floor


The ideal height for a light switch is 36” to 44” from the floor. See page 15 of the AARP HomeFit Guide for more information about lighting, including about today's variety of light bulbs. 


Question 6 of 10:


Is a bathroom towel bar the same thing as a bathroom grab bar?

Yes No Maybe


A grab bar, sometimes called an assist bar, is secured to a surface that's backed by a wooden stud. That way, the bar won't detach when gripped, such as to prevent a fall. Grab bars are


increasingly available in decorative, dual-purpose styles and some do include or double as a towel bar. See page 22 of the AARP Home Fit Guide to learn more about bathroom safety, including


about grab bars.

Question 7 of 10:


A bathroom grab bar should be placed:

Vertically Horizontally Diagonally All of the above


All three placements are options. Vertical grab bars help with balance and are easiest to grip. A horizontal placement helps with forward and backward movements. A diagonal installation is


useful for getting into a seated or standing position.  

Question 8 of 10:


What does it mean for a shower to be "pressure balanced"?

It means the water pressure will be the same in all of the home's faucets. It means the hot water temperature will never rise


above 120 F (49 C). It means the cold water won't be diverted from the shower when a toilet is flushed. It means the water will always remain warm.


When a shower valve is pressure balanced, the cold water won't be diverted away when a toilet is flushed, a dishwasher turned on or a washing machine started elsewhere in the home. Another


safety measure is to have a plumber install a thermostatic value, so the temperature of the water, not simply the balance of hot and cold water, is controlled. Find more home safety


information on page 30 of the AARP HomeFit Guide.

Question 9 of 10:


Any home with a fuel burning appliance, fireplace or attached garage needs a carbon monoxide detector on every level of the home, and especially near the bedrooms. Where should the device


(also called a CO monitor or alarm) be installed?

A carbon monoxide detector should be secured to the ceiling. A carbon monoxide detector should be installed 5 feet from the ground or a


few feet below the ceiling. A carbon monoxide detector should be located on a wall, placed at an equal distance between the ceiling and floor. A carbon monoxide detector should be placed on


the floor.


Carbon monoxide detectors come in battery-powered, plug in and hardwired versions and are most effective when placed 5 feet from the ground or a few feet from the ceiling. Learn more about


CO detectors on pages 19, 26 and 31 of the AARP HomeFit Guide. 

Question 10 of 10:


The AARP HomeFit Guide and accompanying worksheets are available in which five languages?

English, Chinese, French, Korean and Spanish English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish and Vietnamese


English, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish and Vietnamese English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish and Tagalog


The AARP Home Fit Guide and its collection of eight worksheets are available in English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish and Vietnamese. Follow the links below to find the guide and its resources


in the language of your choice.