There’s no doubt where seniors want to live as they age. The majority of seniors polled in recent industry surveys – typically 90 percent – say they want to stay at home. In fact, one recent survey showed that seniors fear loss of independence more than death. But is “home” an accident waiting to happen?

“Adult children worry about their aging parents’ ability to live on their own and it’s a legitimate fear,” said David Rigg, co-owner of Home Instead Senior Care in Gainesville, whose caregivers provide non-medical, in-home care and companionship to seniors in Dawson, Forsyth, Hall and parts of Gwinnett County. “Many seniors and their families don’t think about the fact that homes must adapt to the changing needs of seniors as they age until there’s an accident.”

There are a number of potential pitfalls in a home, according to Rigg.  They run the gamut from accessibility to lighting to trip-and-fall hazards.

“We see many problems during the home-safety reviews we conduct for clients,” said Rigg. “We check 50 different items throughout a home including the entrance, living areas, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and stairways.”

For as many problems as there might be, there are just as many solutions and most are simple and inexpensive, experts say. Convincing seniors, on the other hand, is another story.