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So why are garage safety hazards not given the attention they’re due? It may be because many homeowners consider the garage more of a “separate” area of the home that doesn’t require the same level of organization and cleanliness found in the traditional interior of the house.

But it’s important to remember that the garage is a vital part of your home. It’s a space that’s heavily used and an area that’s conducive to safety hazards if proper care isn’t taken. As such, the garage is as deserving of your attention as any other area of your house.

Know how to identify common garage safety hazards

Any one of the most common garage safety hazards listed below can be found throughout your neighbourhood and perhaps in your very own garage. Keeping your garage safe isn’t difficult, however. Stop ignoring these top seven common garage safety hazards and take steps to improve the level of safety for your garage and entire home.

1. Faulty wiring

One of the most common garage safety hazards is faulty wiring. The U.S. Fire Administration identified electrical malfunctions as the leading cause of garage fires. Garage fires are particularly dangerous because they typically go undetected for longer periods. They also spread quickly because they’re fuelled by flammable materials and garage clutter.

Older homes are more prone to electrical problems and you should speak to an electrician if you have concerns about your garage’s electrical system (such as an outlet sparking every time you use it). Older electrical wiring can also deteriorate over especially long periods due to environmental factors or other reasons, such as rodents chewing through wiring.

2. Other general electrical issues

Along with faulty wiring, a number of additional electrical issues can be garage safety hazards:

• electrical circuits that are old and faulty
• overloaded electrical outlets
• improper usage of extension cords (avoid using extension cords on a permanent basis, make sure you’re using the right extension cord for the task, and throw out any frayed or worn extension cords)
• light bulbs that are the wrong wattage, which can overload wiring

3. Garage clutter

Garage clutter doesn’t just prevent you from parking in your garage and maximizing the space’s usefulness, it’s also a safety hazard. Stacks of clutter and junk piled high in the garage may not be stable and will also, as mentioned, fuel any fire.

Clutter management in the garage is much easier if you choose some effective garage organization solutions. You can keep your garage clean and clutter-free with storage cabinets, slatwall, and specialty storage racks.

4. Improper storage of combustible liquids

Gas, oil, lighter fluid, lawn care products, and paints are just a few of the many hazardous solvents typically stored in the garage. Improper storage of these liquids can cause fire risks, either from ignition caused by surface contact with a leaking combustible liquid or with flammable vapours.

Store your combustible liquids in containers that are clearly marked or colour coded, tightly closed, and durable (plastic soda bottles don’t count for the latter). Never mix combustible liquids. Make sure you store them away from any heat sources, including heaters, appliances, and direct sunlight. If possible, store your combustible liquids in a shed that has good ventilation. Properly dispose of combustible liquids you no longer need.

Another one of the garage safety hazards that’s amazingly common is improper propane tank storage. If you’re putting away your barbecue for the season and storing it in the garage, leave the propane tank outside. Propane tanks are resilient and should never be stored indoors.

5. Improper storage of other hazardous materials

The garage is also where other hazardous materials are found, such as fertilizers, cleaning products, and oily rags. Make sure to always follow the manufacturer’s storage instructions.

One way to keep hazardous materials out of reach from your children is to add storage cabinets to your garage. Some of our garage storage cabinet systems come with options for locks. Storage cabinets also give you more storage space in the garage, as well as adding an aesthetic upgrade to its appearance.

6. Tripping and slipping hazards

Neglecting the condition of your garage floor and what’s stored on it can create tripping and slipping hazards. An old garage floor that’s uneven, missing chunks of cement, or filled with clutter can lead to tripping hazards. Oil or gasoline leaks from vehicles that haven’t been cleaned up are slipping risks, not to mention potentially flammable. Melted snow and ice can also can also be slipping hazards.

A Floortex™ floor coating is one solution that can help. Floortex™ floor coating provides a smooth, attractive surface for your garage. It’s highly resistant to oil, gas, and most household chemicals and allows for spills to be easily cleaned up. And Floortex™ floor coating also has a textured surface, which give you better traction than traditional epoxy floor coatings.

7. General carelessness

Last on our list of the most common garage safety hazards is general carelessness. This can come from a number of methods:

• barbecuing in the garage when the weather is bad (it happens more often than you’d think)
• carelessness when using your garage as a workshop
• failing to properly extinguish cigarettes or cigars (did you know that extinguishing your smoke in an old flower pot or planter can potentially be hazardous?)

Awareness is your best safeguard against these garage safety hazards

Now that you’re aware of the most common garage safety hazards, you can take steps to ensure you’re being responsible with your garage’s safety. You should also consider installing a smoke and heat detector in your garage. And having a readily accessible fire extinguisher for the garage is also wise (make sure it’s suited to cold weather storage if you live in such a climate).

For help with making your garage a safer environment, Garage Living can help. Schedule your free in-home consultation to further discuss your numerous options for improving your garage space.

To learn more, please visit:  https://www.garageliving.com/blog/garage-safety-hazards/

The post Top 7 Garage Safety Hazards That You Shouldn’t Be Ignoring appeared first on Equal Access Advocates.

A common worry of the elderly as physical and mental abilities start to decline with age is that they will no longer be able to be self-sufficient. Moreover, the responsibility of the “sandwich generation” to take care of aging parents has led to the need for better systems and processes for helping seniors. Solutions enabling seniors to live independently into their golden years are becoming a social necessity.

To learn more, please visit:  https://www.verywellhealth.com/aging-in-place-with-digital-health-technology-1739219

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Hoarding and Clutter Solutions for the Elderly

Address the Root Problem

Hoarders suffer from difficulty in letting go of possessions and an insatiable urge to acquire and save items. This affliction can develop from an endless number of personal circumstances revolving around emotional connections, fear of loss or a general insecurity. Whatever the root of your hoarding tendencies, resolving the problem begins with introspection.

• Discuss the affliction with friends, family or psychiatric professionals. Research testimonials from hoarders who have overcome the problem.
• Your Primary Care Doctor should be involved in the conversation as they can help determine if a medical condition is at play.
• Set Parameters of Necessity so that you can honestly evaluate what you can get rid of.
• Not Everything has to Go, just enough so that walkways are safe, and all emergency or health related items are easily accessible.
• Identify if Guilt or Obligation are playing a role in your emotional connection to clutter to help determine if you really need to keep something.
• Pass Down Family Heirlooms or Antiques to children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews to keep them in the family. You won’t be tossing it away, but they will be out of your way.

Stop the Incoming Flow of Stuff

After the root causes of hoarding have been identified, you can come to terms with the new lifestyle ahead of you, but to commit to a safe and clutter free home you must first stop the flow of stuff coming in. Decluttering your home for safety is pointless if you’re going to replace the old stuff.

• Are You a Collector? Many hoarders keep their mountains of stuff simply because they enjoy the hobby of collecting. If so, then you’ll want to discriminately prioritize the things you want to collect the most. In this manner you’ll be able to continue your passion for collecting without having it consume your life.
• Create A Detailed Spending Budget to identify where the clutter is coming from and you’ll be able to trim away at the unnecessary.

Make a Plan

Once you’ve readied yourself to get rid of the unnecessary, and have seriously halted the influx of more clutter, it is time to plan out the cleanup effort. It can be daunting to just begin picking up and moving stuff without having set short and long term goals.

• Concentrate on the most important walkways that you must access for your daily needs.
• Consulting a family member, caregiver or organization professional can help a lot.
• Set Daily Goals for yourself that are realistic according to your abilities. If you’re living in a house with small rooms, try to organize one room every two days or so.
• A Disposal Plan is necessary for recyclable items and excess trash. Larger items like furniture may require a dumpster rental.

It is common practice to prepare 5 boxes or bags for every room or area of the home. This will make it easy to stay organized and transport the items to their new destination. Label the containers as follows:

1. Keep Forever – For necessary items like furniture or items of sentimental value like personal letters, artwork, family heirlooms or certain collectibles.
2. Keep On-Hand – For useful items like cookery, tools and medicinal equipment.
3. Appraise and Sell – For unwanted items of value, or collectibles and artwork of low priority.
4. Give Away – For items like clothing, jewelry or family heirlooms to be passed down to descendants, friends or charity.
5. Recycle – Old letters and bills, electronics, clothing and plastics that you no longer need go here.

Pace Yourself

Decluttering can be incredibly stressful for non-hoarders and hoarders alike. It is a good idea to pace yourself and not expect the mess to clear up instantly.

• Declutter the easy stuff first
• Declutter at least one item a day.
• Make it a regular practice, but set attainable goals.
• Clean the walkways you have prioritized first.

Utilize Technology

Instead of keeping stacks of dusty photo albums and bulky VHS home video cassettes in your way, you can now opt to digitize all of those photos and videos and store them in a hard drive so you can easily access them on your computer or television.

Get help

If you find that you are having overwhelming difficulty in your decluttering effort then the best idea might be to seek help. Luckily, the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) are experts in helping people like yourself improve your living situation and avoid in-home accidents. You can interview members in person, or on the phone, to find a specialist that you are comfortable accepting help from.

Fix Hazards Around the Home

Once you have successfully cleared up the frequently traversed areas of your home, it is time to check for any hazards that may have been hiding behind piles of clutter.

• Broken or Uneven Steps must be fixed.
• Loose Rugs can cause tripping, and may have to be relocated.
• Electrical Wiring should be tied up and tucked out of the way.

Additional Measures

Why stop at a tidy and safe home? That are other measures you can take to prevent a dangerous fall.

• An Eye Exam can identify problems with your vision that can be easily rectified.
• Strength and Balance Exercises may help you regain agility and motor skills.
• Install Grab Bars and Rails around walkways, stairs and in the bathroom.

Unexpected accidents and falls around the home are all too common for the elderly, and while the deteriorative effects of aging can’t be stopped, a lot can be done to make your home much safer. It’s important to remember that nobody expects you to make these changes immediately, but once you have begun you will be actively taking steps to better your quality of life. That goal should help you to keep the momentum going as you continue to reduce clutter and hazards from your home.

To learn more, please visit:  https://blog.mavencare.com/home-care-resources/how-to-reduce-hoarding-and-clutter-to-prevent-falls

The post How to Reduce Hoarding and Clutter to Prevent Falls appeared first on Equal Access Advocates.

Todd and Paula Crawford tried to sell their two-story home in Ringgold, Georgia, after their son Mackenzie was diagnosed in 2004 with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a rapidly progressive form of muscular dystrophy that occurs primarily in boys.

They couldn’t find a buyer during the recession, nor could they locate a home on the market that would meet Mackenzie’s accessibility needs and still accommodate the rest of the family. So they decided in August 2013, after Mackenzie, then 13 years old, fell down some stairs and broke his arm, to remodel their house to make it handicap accessible.

“After [the fall], he quit going up and down stairs,” Todd says. “We had to put a mattress in our dining room for him to sleep on, effectively making it his bedroom. He lived out of a laundry basket, in regards to how his clothes were stored, for a year until we got the remodel completed.”

If you remodel your home for handicap accessibility, your first priority should be to get the access you or your loved one need, experts say. Additionally, maintain your home’s appeal to as broad a market as possible, should you eventually sell it, to help recoup your investment.

To read more, please visit:  https://www.angieslist.com/articles/how-remodel-accessibility.htm

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Home modifications are physical changes made to one’s home to accommodate for the changing needs of the elderly or disabled, to enable aging in place. As we age, our mobility and physical strength diminish and many aspects of a home that were once functional become difficult. Home modifications can be as simple as changing water faucet handles from knobs to levers or as comprehensive as the construction of an accessory apartment or elder cottage on the property.

Common Types of Home Modifications for the Elderly

There are many different types of modifications that can be made to accommodate for aging challenges.  While not comprehensive, the following list is included to give readers an idea of common changes.

• Accessory Apartments – both for the elderly and live-in caregivers
• Climate Controls – installing larger digital displays and / or remote controls
• Computer Equipment – large screen monitors and oversized keyboards
• Easy Use Fixtures – oversized light switches and levers replacing or installed over faucet knobs
• Grab Bars and Rails – in bathrooms and hallways assist persons in preventing falls and improving mobility
• Lighting – modifications within the home and around the property for increased visibility and security
• Pull Out Shelves – also referred to as roll-out, glide-out or slide-out shelves, these enable easy access to deeper spaces for clothing, food and other storage.
• Push Button Door Openers – to automate the opening and closing of doors
• Security Systems – remote monitoring and personal emergency response systems (PERS). More on paying for PERS specifically.  See our medical alert system reviews here.
• Smoothing Floor Surfaces – removal of molding, carpeting and anything on the floor which limits the mobility of a wheelchair
• Software Tools – that enabled increased independence
• Stair Lifts – also called Stair Glides or Lift Chairs.  Learn more about paying for stair lifts here. See our stair lift reviews here.
• Traction or Non-Skid Strips – installed most commonly in bathrooms but also anywhere a floor is hazardous or slippery including kitchens and staircases.
• Transfer Benches – also called showering benches or transfer chairs, these enable individuals to get in and out of showers, tubs and wheelchairs with little or no assistance.
• Walk in Tubs – seated bathtubs, sometimes wheelchair accessible. Learn more about paying for walk in tubs. See our walk in tub reviews.
• Weatherization – such as storm windows, screening and air conditioning
• Wheelchair Ramps – for persons unable to manage stairways. More on paying for wheelchair ramps.
• Widening Doorways and Hallways – to accommodate for wheelchairs and walkers

To read more about this topic, please visit:  https://www.payingforseniorcare.com/home-modifications/how-to-pay-for-home-mods.html

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Canada’s legal system is completely corrupt

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