Our Stay at Home division of Lake Country Builders is involved in an exciting concept!

 Couples or singles that are aging or that have specific needs have an alternative consideration to a nursing home type facility.

Larger homes that are built on spacious lots are becoming care facilities that offer peace and comfort far beyond a nursing home facility at similar expense. Picture yourself or your loved one in need relaxing in a comfortable chair with an ottoman under your feet enjoying a best seller read by the fireplace. Other residents may be enjoying a home cooked appetizer at the kitchen island while others look through old photo albums in the family room. These are realities, not dreams as a new concept is sweeping the area.

These larger, comfortable homes are being retrofitted with elevators and slightly remodeled to accommodate care staffers, cooks, attendants etc…Couples (or singles) have private bedroom retreats with their own private bathrooms. Family members and grandchildren are more comfortable visiting a comfortable home rather than a nursing home facility. It’s a win-win situation for everyone!

These  comfortable Stay at Home retreats are Universally designed to accommodate aging in place needs or specific needs residents. If you have aging parents, consider this peaceful alternative in Minnesota. Contact Lake Country Builders to find out more about these distinctively unique and real possibilities.

While winter weather proves hardly predicable, decreasing winter sunlight hours are. Therefore, planning for trips to/from and around house in the dark is a must this season.  Don't doddle and get your exterior lighting plan tuned up in hopes to illuminate paths, switches, entry's, walkways, ramps, and doors. Modern technology like solar power have helped make these updates more consumer friendly. Weather you are on foot, with walker or in wheelchair, confirming proper illumination will help cut down on unwanted falls and safety hazards like iced over steps. 

While wired and switched lights are preferred, there is also new ways to light up walkways and such with solar. 
Check out this link for 4 Creative Outdoor Lighting Solutions

DID YOU KNOW THAT MOST FALLS HAPPEN IN THE HOME?  ONE IN EVERY THREE ADULTS AGE 65 AND OLDER TAKE A FALL  EACH YEAR.  AMONG OLDER ADULTS FALLS ARE THE LEADING CAUSE OF INJURY DEATHS.  THIS WINTER IS THE PERFECT TIME TO ORGANIZE   AND  EVALUATE  OUR  LIVING SPACES  SINCE MOST OF OUR TIME IS SPENT INDOORS.

THE MOST COMMON CAUSE OF TRIPPING IS FROM CLUTTER.  HOW EASILY WE MAY TOSS A MAGAZINE OR PIECE OF CLOTHING ON THE FLOOR AND LEAVE SHOES WHERE WE TAKE THEM OFF.  DO YOU LEAVE PACKAGES OR A BAG SITTING IN A HALLWAY OR BY A DOOR ?  IT CAN BE SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS THIS WHICH CAN BECOME A TRIPPING HAZARD IN YOUR HOME.

THROW RUGS ARE ALSO SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.  IT MAY LOOK GREAT,  BUT DOES IT LAY IN A TRAFFIC PATTERN THAT WOULD BE EASY TO TRIP OVER?

DO A QUICK  CHECK OF YOUR  COMPUTER CABLES, WIRES  AND ELECTRICAL CORDS. COULD THEY EASILY CATCH YOUR FOOTING?  

YOUR  PETS  CAN ALSO BE  A FACTOR IN TRIPPING.  THEY MEAN WELL, BUT I FIND MY CATS UNDERFOOT CONSTANTLY.  IF YOU ARE BUSY COOKING OR CLEANING,  DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND PUT THEM IN ANOTHER ROOM FOR AWHILE.  THEY DEPEND ON YOU TO NOT GET HURT.

WITH  THE DAYS SHORTER AND DARKER  CONSIDER CHANGING OUT  YOUR LIGHTBULBS TO A BRIGHTER WATTAGE.  ADD ADDITIONAL LIGHTING IN DARK HALLWAYS AND CORNERS.  MY 84 YEAR OLD MOTHER-IN-LAW  SPENT CHRISTMAS EVE NIGHT WITH US AND I USED PLUG-IN  STYLE NIGHTLIGHTS IN THE OUTLETS THAT LINE THE UPSTAIRS HALL AND STAIRWAY.  THAT EXTRA LIGHT WAS WONDERFUL.

AS WE GROW  OLDER WE TYPICALLY START TO LOOSE A LITTLE OF OUR  BALANCE.  KEEPING OUR HOMES SAFE AND CLUTTER FREE WILL KEEP US IN OUR HOMES LONGER AND LIVING INDEPENDENTLY.