Is Your Outdoor Space An Enjoyable Haven or Lurking With Hazards?

Ever since the pandemic, Americans have placed a higher priority on their outdoor living spaces. Whether it’s a deck, a yard, a garden, balcony or the front porch of a house, we’re spending more time outside the walls of our homes.

While enjoying time outside at your home can provide a change of scenery and fresh air, it’s important to ensure your outdoor space isn’t a danger to you or visitors. Here are a few tips from the free downloadable AARP® HomeFit Guide to consider:

• Keep pathways/sidewalks clear – this means no holes, loose bricks, uneven pavement, branches, leaves, moss, mold or other tripping and slipping hazards. Also, ensure paths are quickly cleared following snowfall or storms.
• Install lighting so residents and visitors who approach your home can do so safely after dark. Outdoor lighting fixtures can be equipped with timers or sensors to automatically turn the lights on at dusk and off at dawn, and/or when movement is detected.
• Add handrails and benches to make it easier for residents and visitors of all abilities to access and enjoy your outdoor space.
• Place an access ramp either permanently or temporarily to homes that don’t have a zero-step entry.

For more ideas, download or order the AARP® HomeFit Guide, a free resource that provides low- and no-cost ideas to make your entire home safe and comfortable for years to come.