home improvement
5 Ways to Age-Proof Your Home: Easy upgrades to improve the lives of older adults
Age-Proof Your Home: To help older adults remain safely in their homes, simple enhancements like improved lighting, accessible bathrooms, and safer entryways are essential. Programs like Helping Homebound Heroes offer necessary modifications, supporting veterans’ independence and comfort.
Last Updated on November 3, 2025 by Daily News Staff
5 Ways to Age-Proof Your Home: Easy upgrades to improve the lives of older adults
(Family Features) A home is more than four walls – it’s where birthdays are celebrated, holiday dinners shared, illnesses weathered and losses mourned. Home is, as the saying goes, where the heart is.
It’s little wonder then most people want to remain in their homes as they age, based on AARP research. Yet, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, less than half of U.S. houses are equipped with accessibility features for older adults.
It doesn’t take a full remodel to make a home safer. Updates like installing handrails or improving hallway lighting can go a long way.
For those who need support in making these changes, programs like Helping Homebound Heroes, a partnership between Meals on Wheels America and The Home Depot Foundation, provide senior veterans with essential home modifications and repairs. This year, the initiative marked a milestone: 4,000 homes modified for seniors’ safety.
“By improving safety and accessibility, we’re helping senior veterans stay in the places they love,” said Ellie Hollander, president and CEO of Meals on Wheels America. “Our work is about preserving independence and dignity – helping older adults live safely, confidently and with connection to their communities.”
These practical tips show how small fixes can add up to big peace of mind:
1. Create a safer entryway.
For older adults, steps to the front door can be an obstacle. A ramp or zero-step entry allows for easier coming and going, and a covered porch or awning keeps walkways dry.
Path lights improve visibility at night, and a sturdy bench by the door provides a place to rest or put groceries.
2. Upgrade the bathroom.
According to multiple studies, falls in the bathroom are more likely to cause injury than in other parts of the home.
If you’re planning a bathroom project, start with small changes like raised toilet seats or toilet and shower grab bars. For a more extensive remodel, install non-slip flooring, replace traditional tubs with walk-in showers and add handheld showerheads.
3. Improve flooring.
The flooring in your home can have a big impact on safety. If you have thick or loose carpet, consider replacing it with a low-pile option.
Slip-resistant flooring, such as vinyl or cork, also provides good traction and can be more forgiving than hardwood or tile. Simple visual cues can help, too. Transition strips between rooms or on stair edges make changes in floor level easier to see.
4. Brighten up rooms.
Brighter overhead fixtures improve visibility, making it easier to spot steps, furniture and other obstacles. At night, motion-sensor lights brighten bathrooms and hallways so it’s easier to move around safely.
Lighting can also support overall well-being. Bulbs mimicking natural daylight help regulate the body’s circadian rhythm, boosting energy during the day. In the evening, switching to softer, warmer light signals the body to wind down.
5. Keep essentials within reach.
Storing everyday items at waist or shoulder height reduces the need for stretching, bending and climbing, all of which can increase the likelihood of falls. Sometimes a simple cabinet reorganization is enough but features like pull-down shelving can make storage more accessible.
Extender rods or remote controls let you adjust ceiling fans and lights from the ground, while motorized window shades can be raised or lowered with the push of a button.
For more resources and support for seniors, visit mealsonwheelsamerica.org.
A Milestone Makeover
Juan Lopez, a 63-year-old U.S. Army and Air Force veteran, has always been a do-it-yourselfer. When an ice storm sent a tree limb crashing through his roof, the damage was more than he could handle. Water seeped inside and mold quickly affected his wife’s health.
Through Helping Homebound Heroes, Lopez received critical support. Crews completed nearly $40,000 in upgrades, from replacing his roof to installing new windows, a furnace and walk-in showers with grab bars.
“I don’t know what I would’ve done if they had not stepped in,” Lopez said. “It’s been such a blessing in our lives.”
Since 2015, The Home Depot Foundation has contributed more than $21 million to Meals on Wheels programs, helping veterans like Lopez remain safely and comfortably in their homes as they age.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock (home with wheelchair ramp)
5 Ways to Age-Proof Your Home: Easy upgrades to improve the lives of older adults
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Meals on Wheels
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home improvement
Easy Furniture Upcycling Projects You Can Do in a Weekend
Easy Furniture Upcycling Projects: Giving secondhand furniture a new life is a creative, satisfying and budget-friendly way to add personality to your home. Next time you’re in the mood to spend time working with your hands, try these simple DIY furniture upcycling ideas.
Easy Furniture Upcycling Projects You Can Do in a Weekend
(Feature Impact) Giving secondhand furniture a new life is a creative, satisfying and budget-friendly way to add personality to your home. Upcycling doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive – all it takes is a little imagination, some basic supplies and a free weekend.
Next time you’re in the mood to spend time working with your hands, try these simple DIY furniture upcycling ideas.
Give a Worn Dresser a Fresh Look
Dressers have a way of accumulating scuffs and scratches over time, but it doesn’t take much to refresh their look. Clean the surfaces, sand away any rough spots then apply a fresh coat of furniture paint. To turn it into a stylish statement piece, choose a classy, on-trend color like sage green, deep navy or a warm neutral and replace the drawer pulls with modern hardware to match.
Transform an Old Coffee Table
The coffee table is a natural centerpiece of your living room, so give it an update that fits your preferred aesthetic. Sand it smooth, choose a new wood stain for a more natural look or paint it to match or create contrast with your walls and seating. Adding a protective clear coat can help the surface withstand everyday use and look new for longer.
Turn Wooden Chairs into Stylish Accent Pieces
If you have a collection of mismatched or worn-out wooden chairs around the house, try your hand at refurbishing instead of replacing them. Give them a good wash, repair any broken rungs, update the seats with fresh fabric or new cushions or unleash your inner artist by giving the chairs fun new designs with paint or peel-and-stick contact paper. If they aren’t a good fit for your main dining area, use the chairs as porch decorations or extra seating during parties.
Repurpose an Old Bookshelf
Bookshelves don’t just have to be for books. Give it a fresh design using paint or decorative wallpaper then transform it into a display cabinet, pantry organizer, entryway cubby for shoes and school supplies or whatever else your imagination sparks. Stave off clutter by adding visually appealing bins or baskets to help the shelves stay clean and organized.
Create a Unique Side Table
You can turn a variety of old furniture into side tables, from nightstands and end tables to stools and chairs with the backs removed. Consider adding decorative trim, stenciled designs, patterned tabletops or vibrant paint colors then give the finished table a new life as a plant display, bedside stand or porch accent piece.
Discover more home, lifestyle and crafting ideas at eLivingtoday.com.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
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home improvement
4 Ways to Make Room for Better Living
Make Room for Better Living: Oftentimes, making your home better suited for your needs starts with rethinking how the doors open. Whether you’re remodeling or building a new home, understanding the options can help you choose doors – and the installation hardware behind them – that make rooms more comfortable and convenient.
4 Ways to Make Room for Better Living
A bathroom door that bumps into the vanity. A closet interior that’s awkward to reach. A home office that needs a little separation from family activity. Oftentimes, making your home better suited for your needs starts with rethinking how the doors open.
Sliding, folding and pocket doors offer practical ways to improve everyday spaces without adding square footage. Whether you’re remodeling or building a new home, understanding the options can help you choose doors – and the installation hardware behind them – that make rooms more comfortable and convenient.
Consider these four ways to put your doors to work from the experts at Johnson Hardware, who make easy-to-install hardware systems in the U.S.:
Free Up Floor Space with Pocket Doors
In bathrooms, kitchen pantries and laundry rooms, a swinging door can compete with storage, taking up to 14 square feet of floor space and interrupting traffic flow. Pocket doors slide into the wall, freeing the area a hinged door needs to swing open.
Made for single pocket doors in compact rooms or two converging doors for larger openings between adjoining spaces, pocket door hardware with its soft-close feature helps doors glide gently into the open and closed positions, reducing slamming. Discuss pocket doors early in your project so your building professional can plan for the space needed inside the wall.
Keep Essentials Handy with Bypass and Multi-Pass Doors
A frequently used mudroom, hallway or bedroom closet can look more organized with sliding bypass or multi-pass doors. The panels travel on separate tracks and slide past one another, letting you reach different sections without doors swinging into the room.
Options like Johnson’s bypass and multi-pass hardware systems help keep walkways clear while concealing storage or everyday clutter. Ask your designer or remodeler about panel arrangements and soft-close options that suit the opening based on how you’ll use the space.
Add Flexibility with Wall-Mount Sliding Doors
If you want the space-saving benefits of a sliding door but a pocket door isn’t practical, wall-mount doors travel along a track outside the wall. With easy-to-install hardware systems, making the switch from a swinging door can be a quick, practical room upgrade.
Often called barn doors, they can complement many decorating styles, from traditional painted wood to contemporary glass designs. Wall-mount sliding doors work well in home offices, bedrooms, laundry rooms and pantries, where soft-close and soft-open hardware can help reduce noise. Plan for clear wall space beside the opening so the door has room to slide.
Open Up Storage with Full-Access Bifold Doors
A closet can hold more than clothes. It might become a craft station, compact workspace or convenient place for laundry supplies.
Bifold doors use hinged panels that fold together as they open. Unique 1601 Full-Access Bifold Door Hardware goes a step further, allowing panels to fold flat against adjacent walls for full access across the opening. That makes it easier to reach shelves, organize supplies and use the space inside.
Thoughtful door hardware choices can make everyday routines easier, from reaching pantry shelves to creating a quiet place to work. As you plan your project, ask your designer, architect, remodeler or building contractor how pocket, sliding and folding door hardware systems can help make better use of your space.
For more ideas, visit johnsonhardware.com.
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Consumer Corner
5 Affordable Bathroom Upgrades That Feel Luxurious
5 Affordable Bathroom Upgrades: If you dream of having a bathroom that feels like a spa-inspired retreat, the good news is you don’t need a full renovation or huge budget to make it happen. Small, thoughtful upgrades can add style, comfort and ambience to your space without breaking the bank.
5 Affordable Bathroom Upgrades That Feel Luxurious
(Feature Impact) If you dream of having a bathroom that feels like a spa-inspired retreat, the good news is you don’t need a full renovation or huge budget to make it happen. Small, thoughtful upgrades can add style, comfort and ambience to your space without breaking the bank.
Consider these five affordable bathroom upgrade ideas to add touches of luxury to your home.
Warm, Soft Lighting
Lighting can completely change the atmosphere of a room; you can instantly create a welcoming, calming vibe by replacing harsh, bright lighting with soft, warm tones. To make your bathroom feel even more like a fancy hotel, think about adding wall sconces next to the mirror, accent lighting around the vanity or candles on the counter.
New Hardware and Finishes
Replacing outdated hardware and fixtures can immediately refresh the space – you don’t even have to buy a new vanity or cabinets if sleek new knobs and drawer handles are enough to make the old ones look like new. Another easy upgrade: A new faucet can give your whole sink area a more modern and sophisticated look. Opt for sleek, durable materials that feel cohesive with the rest of your design, like brushed nickel, matte black or warm bronze.
Upgraded Showerheads
Make your daily routine more indulgent by turning your shower into something that feels like an experience instead of a chore. If you enjoy gentle showers, consider a rain-style showerhead. For water pressure you can customize depending on your preference, look for a combination model. Also decide whether you’d rather have a detachable showerhead for extra convenience or one that’s fixed in place.
Heated Towel Racks
After a shower or bath, enjoy a little extra cozy luxury by wrapping up in a freshly warmed towel from an electric rack. You can install a permanent wall-mounted unit or choose a freestanding option for extra portability. As a hygienic bonus, towel warmers can also help linens dry faster, minimizing dampness and musty odors.
Refreshed Decor
Don’t underestimate how even small details can make a big difference. A few carefully chosen pieces of decor can elevate the look and feel of the whole room. That might be wall art, new curtains, a stylish mirror or even practical things like a new toothbrush holder and soap tray. Also think about choosing one or two plants suited to your bathroom’s natural lighting and humidity levels – a little greenery can make everything feel fresh and classy.
Get inspired with more home design and renovation tips at eLivingtoday.com.
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
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