How I’ll Work With You
Who I Work With
Adult children of aging parents as well as geriatric care managers, health professionals and lawyers often hire me to do a Home Safety Assessment as part of a care plan to:
- Maintain a client’s or a loved one’s ability to safely live at home
- Provide a supportive environment to reduce the impact of Parkinson’s, memory loss, low vision, or arthritis
- Reduce falls and their devastating impact
- Make caregiving easier for the family or professional caregiver
- Help them implement safety solutions
Additionally, more and more proactive seniors are seeking my services to help them adapt their homes before the need arises, ensuring a safe and happy transition to their later years.
If these are your concerns, contact me to get the ball rolling:
Rosemary Bakker
rbakker@agefriendlydesign.com
917-747-8690
Home Safety Assessment
After your initial phone call or email, I ask you to sign a standard Letter of Agreement that explains my responsibilities and fees. I then meet you at the home of your loved one or client. The home evaluation focuses on fall prevention, general safety, accessibility and functionality. This evaluation usually takes 2 to 4 hours, depending on the size of the home and the needs of the client.
One of my main goals is to learn about the client’s aesthetics and recommend products and furnishings that are beautiful as well as functional. At times, I team up with the person’s physical and/or occupational therapist to get their input.
The areas and issues covered by my evaluation include:
- Flooring, stairs, and mobility
- Accessibility
- Bathing safety
- Measuring for grab bars
- Ergonomic beds and chairs
- Cooking safety
- Color, lighting, and vision
- Auditory enhancement
- Memory cues
Written Evaluation
Based on my findings, I then write up a comprehensive report, individualized for each client, taking into account his/her level of functioning and aesthetic needs. Within 1 to 2 weeks, you’ll receive this detailed report which will include:
- Customized problem solving
- Photographs of problem areas
- Preliminary specifications of recommended furnishings and products (e.g., wall to wall carpeting, lighting, grab bars, wider doorways, ergonomic chair)
- Space planning and floor plans if needed (especially for accessible bathroom renovations)
Implementing Your Plan
Many of the recommendations can be implemented by family members or local contractors. However, I can continue to help you achieve a safe, functional, beautiful home by offering these additional services:
- Choosing and procuring furnishings and other resources
- Fine-tuning and/or designing floor plans
- Developing an accessible bathroom design
- Overseeing installations
If my Age-Friendly Design services sound like something that could be helpful to you or someone you care for, see my Contact page.