One of the first things new grandparents rush to do in preparation for their new grandchild’s first visit is to “baby-proof” the house. One especially important area is eliminating slip, trip, and fall hazards to keep the little one safe. Yet why don't we spend the same time and effort managing and maintaining our grown-up spaces?
As adults, we become so accustomed to our familiar home surroundings that, as we age, we overlook many potential dangers to our own health and well-being. This is serious because, as we get older, household accidents can become more dangerous.
Most information about making the home environment safer focuses on indoor spaces. Yet, what about our outdoor surroundings? Many adults treasure their freedom to be outside enjoying nature. Unfortunately, outdoor spaces are more difficult to keep safe due to exposure to the elements. For these reasons, we've put together a few ideas to help avoid these extra dangers.
10 Age-Friendly Tips for Your Outdoor Space!
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Everything in Its Proper Place
To keep everything in its proper place, you need proper places for those things to go. Our first tip is to construct or purchase storage spaces for your outdoor items. Whether this means buying a box for the seating cushions or hanging hooks for grilling accessories, consider all the items that need to be stored rather than cluttering up your outdoor space. Sheds are great places to store things, but they shouldn't be too far from the house and require their own maintenance. Once everything has a designated place to be stored, practice keeping things in their proper places when they are not in use.
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Roll Up the Hoses
Hoses are typically not an issue on the patio or deck area. But for anyone walking in the yard, they can be a tripping hazard, especially since they may be hidden in the grass. Make a habit of rolling up hoses after use to make your outdoor area a bit safer.
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Managing Extension Cords
Much like hoses, extension cords are an awful tripping hazard, especially since they can be in the yard, on the deck, or on the patio. The best advice is to coil and store these cords when you finish a project. For cords used long-term, such as lighting, music systems, or oscillating fans, cover them with a rug or a rubberized cord cover. This will eliminate the trip hazard and maintain a neat appearance. For lighting, also consider stapling or otherwise tacking the cord to the wall or a fence.
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Proper Lighting
Once the sun sets, dangerous dark spaces are more likely to form outdoors than indoors. Also, because older eyes take longer to adjust to changing light conditions, lighting is incredibly important once the sun sets.
While strand lights are attractive, one strand may not provide adequate light. Many big-box stores sell elegant LED lighting fixtures that provide sufficient light at a modest price and include features such as remote controls that adjust brightness. Consider affixing lights to poles to illuminate the entire patio or yard. Whichever configuration you choose, be sure that it provides enough light so that there are no significant shadows. This will allow you to enjoy your space at any time while significantly reducing the risk of falling and injury.
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Plenty of Shade
Any time spent outside can expose one's skin to harsh UV rays. As we get older, the threat of skin cancer is one that our bodies are less able to cope with. Therefore, ensuring your patio has sufficient shade is imperative.
While it's important to provide adequate shade, it's worth considering whether it affects transitional visibility. Many of us have experienced stepping into someone's covered porch on a sunny day and having trouble with our eyes not adjusting quickly enough, increasing the risk of an accident. Consider positioning your awning or shade so light can penetrate on at least three sides.
Trees are also a great way to provide shade on a hot day. However, dropping leaves can create a trip, slip, or fall hazard. If there is a good shade tree near your outdoor space, consider building an angled covering that allows leaves to slide or otherwise blow off, minimizing the number that drop onto your patio or deck.
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Safe Walkways
If your yard features a path or walkway, make sure that it is free of debris, smooth, and level. While pathway stones may be more aesthetically pleasing than a concrete-only path, they are more prone to shifting and require more careful stepping. If you want to stay true to your paving-stone aesthetic, pour concrete around them to make them a permanent fixture. This will add character to the walkway and stability for your feet.
It is worth noting that, whatever surface you choose, take time to assess its grip potential across different weather conditions. There's nothing more dangerous than a slippery path. Also, the straighter this path is, the shorter and cheaper it will be to build, as well as helping you feel more surefooted.
Many outdoor walkways include stairs, which can become increasingly challenging to navigate as we age. When designing your path to and from your patio, consider building more gradual stairs to make it easier to traverse. To make it even better for stiff knees, an alternative might be to construct a ramp instead of stairs.
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Give Yourself Furniture Options
A hammock is super comfortable for naps, but at some point in our lives, it can be difficult to get in and out of. There are plenty of other relaxing furniture options, like chaise lounges, small sofas, rocking chairs, or porch swings. Consider adding a cozy outdoor ottoman that doubles as a cushion storage box. It can be moved from chair to chair, and it doubles as extra seating when you have company.
When choosing seating, we must weigh many factors such as height, depth, stability, and comfort. For example, if you can't get into or out of your seat easily, it immediately loses much of its value. You might as well be stuck in a hammock.
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Gauge Your Abilities
Based on your physical abilities, it’s crucial to be judicious in determining what will and will not become part of your patio. Can you lift those cushions with ease? How about ten of them? Can you sweep the entire space, or would you prefer to use a leaf blower? If you decide to hang outdoor lighting, can you reach the bulbs to change them, or should you invest in LED bulbs that don't need to be changed as often, if ever? Considering your willingness and honestly gauging it against your future ability to maintain the space will help you gain the maximum enjoyment from your outdoor environment.
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Landscape Care Adjustments
Heat and exhaustion are significant risk factors for outdoor work, including lawn care and other strenuous yard activities. Consider hiring lawn maintenance and landscaping companies to keep your greenery looking its best and minimize your physical stress. If you are tired of hauling hoses for watering, consider irrigation systems that are easy to control and typically are more water-efficient. Also, if your lawn is lumpy or uneven, make it safer to walk on by asking the lawn care crew to roll the turf to flatten the bumps.
A safer outdoor space usually feels more comfortable overall. Better lighting, clearer walkways, and easier-to-manage features all make it simpler to relax and spend time outside. That extra effort upfront can help you enjoy the space longer and with fewer worries.