Top Tips for DIY Home Safety

With just a small investment in time and a few dollars, you can make your home safer and more comfortable by following these do-it-yourself tips. All of the home modification suggestions below are easily implemented by you, the homeowner, and do not require the services of a professional contractor. So why wait? Modify your home today and feel happier and more secure.

Top DIY Tips For Home Safety: All Rooms

1.     Keep emergency numbers (911, doctor, relatives, neighbors) in large print near each phone.

2.     Arrange furniture to create unobstructed pathways and strategically place heavy, sturdy furniture pieces for resting and support.

3.     Try to create bright, uniform lighting by adding lights to dark areas and  changing light bulbs to a higher wattage (without exceeding manufacturer's maximum).

4.     Ensure ample reading and task lights in the bedroom, kitchen and living room; consider under-counter lights and natural spectrum desktop or magnifier floor lamps.

5.     Remove personal items, decorations and any clutter on floors, tables and counters.

6.     Clean out and reorganize contents of closets, cabinets, shelves and pantries for easy access of the most frequently used items.

7.     Remove throw rugs, but if you can't part with them, secure with double-sided tape, tacks or a non-skid mat.

8.     Remove or rearrange electrical cords and extension cords that interfere with  pathways.

9.     Make sure electrical outlets are not overloaded with plugs; consider switching to a surge protector.

10.  Make sure smoke/carbon monoxide detectors have new batteries, are in working order and are placed near bedroom, kitchen and utility area where your boiler, furnace, hot water heater and washer/dryer may be located.

11.  Keep a working fire extinguisher in the home that is easily accessible, preferably near the kitchen, and know how to operate it.

Top DIY Tips For Home Safety: Kitchen

1.     Move frequently used small appliances to the counter or waist-height cupboard and near an outlet.

2.     Consider upgrading to small appliances with an automatic shut-off feature such as a coffee maker, electric kettle, toaster oven and iron.

3.     Reduce the risk of fire around the stovetop area by relocating potentially flammable fabrics such as curtains, aprons and dish towels; and refrain from  wearing clothing with billowy or wide sleeves when cooking on the stove.

4.     Reduce the risk of burns by placing a heat-resistant surface near the stove, oven and microwave for placing hot pans and dishes; keep potholders and mitts handy.

5.     If you must use a step stool, make sure your foot stool has a support handle and never use a chair in place of a step stool.

Top DIY Tips For Home Safety: Living Room

1.     Make sure curtains and shades are easy to operate; and consider adding sheers  to reduce glare.

2.     Upgrade to a lighted, big-button universal remote control to easily operate the  television and entertainment system.

3.     Make sure your favorite chair or sofa is easy to sit down in and get up from, and  has sturdy arms for support; otherwise consider a lift chair or uplift seat device.

Top DIY Tips For Home Safety: Bedroom

1.     Use a sturdy nightstand with ample surface for a lamp, phone, glasses and  water; use a drawer to store a flashlight and extra batteries.

2.     Use nightlights with sensors that illuminate your path from your bed to the bathroom and to the hallway.

3.     Have a sturdy chair with arms in your dressing area for support and comfort while putting on shoes, socks, pants, jewelry, etc.

4.     Ensure your bed is high enough to get in and out of easily; consider adding sturdy wooden risers and remove casters.

5.     If possible, consider relocating your bedroom to the first floor of your home.

Top DIY Tips For Home Safety: Bathroom

1.     Install non-slip strips or a suction-cup bath mat on the floor inside the shower and tub.

2.     Place a non-slip, absorbent floor mat outside the shower and tub to soak up excess water and dry the bottom of your feet.

3.     Consider using DIY suction cup grab bars with green-light safety indicator, a tub rail and bath transfer bench or bath lift inside the tub.

4.     Install an elevated toilet seat with support arms to help with sitting and standing.

5.     Make sure toilet paper is comfortably within reach and extra rolls are handy in case you run out; consider installing an L-shaped holder that makes changing  the roll easy.

Top DIY Tips For Home Safety: Exterior

1.     Mount battery-operated, motion-detector lights outside to illuminate doors and walkways.

2.     Make sure address numbers are visible at all exterior doors and easily seen from the street in the event of an emergency.

3.     Clean garage floor to remove slick spots, pick up any sharp objects (nails, screws, shovels) and use a non-slip floor mat to wipe moisture and debris off  shoes and boots before entering the home.

4.     Clear a path, free of overgrown grass, bushes and shrubs, to a sturdy mailbox that is easy to open and close.

5.     Make sure garden tools are easily reached from a flat-footed stance; and use a retractable reel to keep hoses coiled.

6.     Consider hiring a local service for wintertime ice and snow removal, spring and summer yard maintenance and fall leaf removal and gutter cleaning.

For more extensive home modifications such as ramps, grab bars, curbless showers,  recessed lighting and wider doorways, just to name a few, hire a reputable company  that is certified in aging-in-place solutions.

Holding On To Your Stresses

A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they’d be asked the “half empty or half full” question. Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired: “How heavy is this glass of water?”

Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz. 

She replied, “The absolute weight doesn’t matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it’s not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I’ll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn’t change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.” She continued, “The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed – incapable of doing anything.”

It’s important to remember to let go of your stresses. As early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don’t carry them through the evening and into the night. Remember to put the glass down!  

Caregivers Emotional First Aid Kit

1.    Smile, it’s not funny how often we forget to do this simple act and how well it lifts our spirits

2.    Call someone who makes you feel good, especially if you haven’t spoken with them in a long time

3.    Have a bite of something sinfully delicious, while being conscious of your own dietary limitations. When was the last time you treated yourself to a snack?

4.    Take a bubble bath, once you make sure that your loved one is safe and secure, nothing expresses caregiver self-care better than a leisurely bubble bath

5.    Read, pick up that novel or re-read that motivating poem. When was the last time you turned off the television, turned down the phone and read something nice?

6.    Get a massage. It’s like taking a mini vacation. It will relax you and take care of all the tension you build up every day.

7.    Buy yourself some flowers. You deserve it and the sight and smell of something beautiful and fragrant will give you a reason to smile.

8.    Take a walk at a pace that allows you to feel the energy of the wind washing over you.

9.    Go shopping and buy something “just for you”, something that makes you feel special.

10.  Go online. You can explore different places, find new friends and learn new things. Make the Internet your getaway even when you can’t get out of the house.

Beware of Phone Scams on the Elderly

If you're retired, one of the biggest threats to your wallet could be that smooth voice on the phone. Reported phone scams were up 7.62 percent in 2010, according to the National Consumers League.

With all age groups, phone scams are growing… and so are consumer complaints. With retirees, scammers give more time and attention. Often, when the family members finally intervene, the retiree has more trust in the new phone friend.

Recently, one crook gamed $25,000 from a retiree in a lottery phone scam, says Linda Foley, founder of the Identity Theft Resource Center. Even when relatives assured the man the "lottery" was fake, he insisted he'd won -- selling off assets to pay fees "required" to claim his promised millions.

"It was heartbreaking," says Foley.

Criminals also watch the news. They "latch onto what's new and at the top of consumers' minds," says John Breyault, director of the National Consumers League's Fraud Center.

Consequently, top scams these days revolve around health care reform, he says.

Beware these four tricky retiree phone scams.

1. Unsolicited phone calls or visits from hucksters selling fake discount health plans. The caller claims to be with the government or a government-sponsored company and tries to sell you a "health plan" that will provide discounts on various medical services, says Breyault. These plans rarely offer any worthwhile coverage, he says.

Signs that it's a scam:

·         The caller won't give you details in writing. (And don't even ask unless you have access to a fax machine or a P.O. Box. You don't want to give these people your home address.)

·         The caller asserts he or she is with the government or a government-sponsored company.

·         You're told you must have insurance now, but mandatory health coverage requirements don't go into effect until 2014.

Best move: hang up.

2. You get a phone call from a "friend" of your grandson. Bad news. Your grandson is in jail. He's too embarrassed to call his parents. Could you wire the bail-lawyer money? And please don't tell anyone.

One big tip-off: the request to wire money. "Scammers are very frequently users of money services," says Breyault.

Any time a stranger on the phone asks you to wire money, it's a scam… and sometimes, even when someone claims to be family, that can also be a scam.

Still worried? Hang up and dial your grandson, says Breyault. Chances are his cell is glued to his hip, and you'll discover he's not in jail. Or ask the caller the name of the location and the jail. Then hang up, and look up the number to that jail yourself. If you find out it's a real place, call to see if your little darling is there. Most likely, he won't be.

3. A caller gushes that you've won millions, but first you must pay taxes and transfer fees. He or she might request personal information, such as Social Security or bank account numbers. The caller may even make multiple calls to establish a personal rapport, says Foley.

Scam clues:

• You don't recall buying a ticket.
•  Real lotteries don't track down winners. They won't call at all, much less repeatedly.\
• Real lotteries don't ask you for money.
•  Lotteries don't need your banking information.
•   In reality, you deal with the tax authorities yourself -- after you collect.

A twist: The caller may tell you the money will be awarded to someone else if you don't pay quickly.

Real lotteries don't regift.

And how would anyone know you hold the "winning" ticket?

Scammers will blur the lines on sweepstakes and lotteries, hoping you don't know the difference. While sweepstakes or contest sponsors will contact you (the opposite of how a lottery works), all the other scam tip-offs are the same. You have to proactively enter. There are no random drawings based on your phone number, address, e-mail address or purchase records. You never have to pay out money if you've won a genuine contest. You also don't have to share banking information. And you settle with tax authorities yourself, after you've been paid.

One big tip-off: Secrecy. If someone wants you to part with money and keep that fact a secret, it's a scam, says Jenny Shearer, spokeswoman for the FBI.

The whole purpose of sponsoring a sweepstakes is to generate publicity, so why would a real sweepstakes ask you not to tell anyone you've won?

4. You receive a phone invitation to a free lunch seminar, or the invitation could be for a weekend getaway or even a cruise. It could arrive in the mail.

If what's being hyped is labeled as an investment opportunity, it's frequently "a bogus investment," says Breyault. These so-called opportunities are often Ponzi schemes.

"Scammers buy phone lists," Breyault says.

Scam signs:

•  Promises unbelievable returns but puts none of that in writing.
• Pressures you to make a decision on the spot. "If it's a good investment today, it will be a good investment the next day," says Breyault.
• Claims sponsorship or endorsement by organizations or agencies that don't endorse or sponsor investments.
• May claim to be registered or licensed when they really are not.

Tip: Never make investment decisions immediately, and vet all professionals and potential investments, Breyault says. Do background checks.

And skip the freebies. Like your mama always told you: There's no such thing as a free lunch.