2 Things To Consider When Putting Up Window Treatments For Aging Persons
The life expectancy of the average American in 2012 was reported to be about 78.8 years. With this increase in longevity come concerns for making the living conditions of the elderly as comfortable as possible. Since almost 90 percent of seniors over the age of 65 years would prefer to stay at home, if possible, the home would probably need some adjustment to facilitate the changing needs of an aging resident. One such adjustment could be in the window treatments that are used in the home and more specifically in the living areas in which that person will reside.
So if your aging relative either lives with you or lives alone in the home, here are two things to consideration in making the window treatments age appropriate.
Light up my life
Light is important for seeing and facilitating movement. Natural light is very good for this purpose and can help to prevent falls and unintentional injury as the elderly person will be able to clearly see where they are going. Light can also affect mood. It is estimated that sunlight heightens the emotions and is associated with more positive feelings. This cannot be discounted as there is a reported increase in suicide rates, one of the ten leading causes of death in the elder, in 2012. When getting window treatments therefore, it is important to consider how much light they will allow into the room.
Facilitating light also begs the consideration of the ease with which the window treatments can be opened or closed. Since elderly people sometimes have mobility issues, it might be best to get a treatment that is automated or motorized. These can cost between $300 to $600 per window, depending on width and height, with an additional $20 to $50 in installation costs per treatment.
Keep me warm
Two of the other illnesses that make up the 10 leading causes of death among the elderly are chronic lower respiratory diseases (3rd leading cause in 2011) and influenza/pneumonia. Keeping warm, especially in the cold winter months can certainly help to stave off the possibility of suffering from any of these illnesses. Thermal window treatments can help to keep the room and its aging occupant warm. Since they work by preventing a significant portion of the warm temperatures from leaving the room, these can also help to reduce the amount of money spent on heating bills.
By doing some research or contacting a professional, you can determine which thermal window treatment option would be most efficient for your area and climatic conditions. You could choose to purchase thermal coverings at a cost of between 10 cents to $1.50 per square foot, depending on the type, or treat it as a do-it-yourself project that might cost you just over $5 to $10 dollars for the thick comforter you would need to use as a base material.
For more information on window treatments, check out companies such as Landis Decorating Inc.
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