Page 12 December 14, 2017 EL SEGUNDO HERALD
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Prevent Falls with a Home Safety Checklist
Home for the Holidays! Open Sat. & Sun. 2pm-4pm
633 California
BRE # 00946399
John Skulick
BRE #01064179
310-350-4240 TeamSkulick@gmail.com Rose VanHook
310-350-5920
Coming Spring 2018
4 bedrooms 2 baths.
2000 sq. ft.
Remodeled Kitchen.
Hardwood floors
throughout.
Detached 4-car
garage. $1,399,000
BRE #02034572
Pol Schönhöfer
310-980-5530
Brand New Home!
Gorgeous single family.
New construction.
This will KNOCK your
socks off! Fabulous Extra
Wide Lot. Call for Details...
Brokers
Open Fri.
12-2pm
(BPT) - After months of sticky
heat and humidity, it’s time to put
away the shorts and pull out the
sweaters because the autumn season
is finally here. But, late September
brings us more than just cooler
temperatures and a wardrobe change.
According to the National Council
on Aging, falls are the leading
cause of fatal injury and account
for the majority of emergency room
visits for older adults. More than
75 percent of falls happen in or
around the house, but fortunately
there are ways to evaluate our loved
ones’ homes and make them safer
for everyday living.
Use the checklist below, based
on suggestions from the Consumer
Product Safety Commission and
the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, to help guide your
review of the exterior and interior
of the property. Many of the safety
measures listed can be made at little
to no cost, but more significant modifications
could require a considerable investment.
Keep in mind, there are financial options
available for seniors who want to modify
their homes to meet their changing needs.
Area Agencies on Aging, state and local
governments, and some nonprofits offer
grants, loans or other assistance programs
for eligible seniors in need of home repairs
and modifications.
Older homeowners may also want to
consider using a reverse mortgage loan to
convert a portion of their home’s equity
into cash proceeds that can be used for
many reasons, including home modifications
and maintenance. Unlike a home
equity loan, a reverse mortgage requires
no monthly principal or interest payments
and cannot be frozen or reset.
Borrowers do not have to repay the loan
balance until the last eligible spouse permanently
leaves the home, or if they fail to
meet their loan obligations, which include
staying current on property taxes, insurance
and any condominium or HOA fees.
For a comprehensive overview of reverse
mortgage loans and a Borrower Roadmap
to the loan process, visit http://www.reversemortgage.
org/Your-Roadmap, a free
consumer resource created by the National
Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association.
Home Safety Checklist
• Make sure the driveway and
any paved walkways are smooth
and stable. Seal any cracks before
more damage is created. Crumbling
or uneven concrete surfaces should
be repaired.
• Porch and deck flooring should be
flat, even and nonslip. Any loose or
broken floorboards should be nailed
down or replaced.
• Outdoor steps should have sturdy,
easily graspable handrails.
• The porch and entryway should
be well-lit and light switches should
be easily accessible.
• Consider whether the doorway
to the home can be converted to
a no-step entrance way. There are
many creative ways to achieve this.
• Floors should be flat and nonslip;
floorboards should be stable
and carpets should be free of holes
and tears that could create a tripping
hazard.
• Throw rugs should be fully fastened to
the floor with tacks or double-sided tape,
or taken out of the house.
• Stairways should have solidly mounted
handrails on both sides of the steps if possible,
and should be well-lit.
• If you or your loved ones face mobility
challenges and stairs are an obstacle to accessing
different levels of the home, consider
installing a chairlift that will enable them to
enjoy all the rooms in the house again. •