56 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • JANUARY 2022
TURNING YOUR HOME INTO A GRANDPARENT-FRIENDLY DWELLING
continued from page 55
In a U.S. News & World Report piece
(“Should Your Aging Parent Move in
With Your Family?”), Carol Bradley
Bursack, caregiver and author of
Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share
Their Personal Stories, suggests that
this major commitment should be
made with eyes wide open vs. a mistyeyed
view of that new reality.
Here, experts offer insights and
suggestions.
“Living well in our homes involves
making them welcoming and comfortable
for all members of the extended
family,” says Port Washington
designer Jennifer Fox of Fox + Chenko
Interiors Ltd.
But she and co-owner Tonia Omeltchenko
both have a few areas of concern
that come up time and again, where
seniors are concerned, that center
on comfort and safety:
Seating: Trends in seating favor the
young these days, with their lowto
the-ground, deep-depth, sink-in,
lounge-y casualness. Unfortunately,
this trend opposes the need that
many seniors have: to sit down and
stand up without assistance. Chairs
and sofas with seat depths of 36
inches or less that have arms to provide
leverage to raise oneself up are
always preferable.
Floor coverings: choose flat-weave
vs. thick-pile rugs with non-slip padding
to reduce the risk of falls.
Clean up clutter: A neat, organized
space is safer, especially for grandparents
who use walkers or canes.
A guest bedroom and bathroom
are a plus: Beds should be standard
height, with a mattress that
has medium-level firmness. Other
thoughtful touches: a tableside water
decanter with glass, and/or a soft
luxe throw. Ideally, this room is on
the first floor.
More tips: A therapeutic bubble tub
with modern grab bars and handheld
shower wand; a medicine cabinet
with LED lighting within the mirror,
which supplements ambient overhead
and sconce lighting.
AGE-FRIENDLY
CHANGES
Mobility, strength, balance or vision
issues, and the impact of chronic
illnesses can make homes that used
to be easy to get around in very
difficult to navigate, i.e., Grandpa
may need a walker or wheelchair.
So, depending on budget, homes can
be retrofitted with ramps outside, to
avoid staircases. Also, widen doorways
going into the house or inside.
Flatten out thresholds in rooms or
showers for easier access, suggests
Richard H. Morgan, Ph.D., associate
dean and graduate program director
and clinical professor, School
of Social Welfare, Stony Brook
University.
To make it possible for seniors to
live comfortably with their families
or remain in their own homes,
caregivers should make the dwelling
more accessible and accommodating
as grandparents’ physical abilities
change. More involved home renos
might include lowering the height
of kitchen/bathroom cabinets and
countertops. And don’t forget smart
technology.
“Companies and contractors who work
with home remodeling are more familiar
now with the changing needs
of seniors and can design these kinds
of plans for both small-scale and
large-scale needs. County and town
agencies that serve the needs of aging
citizens usually have information
about contractors in the area who do
this kind of work,” Dr. Morgan says.
In addition, various organizations
such as the United Disabilities
Services Foundation offer information
related to aging in place: Visit
udservices.org/blog/aging-in-placedesign.
These kinds of design innovations
can make caregivers’ homes
much more age friendly while also
empowering seniors to remain at
home in a safer environment.
SOMETIMES, IT
TAKES A VILLAGE
Multigenerational homes are great,
but these arrangements have pros
and cons – and the dynamics involved
may not work for everyone. To be successful,
it also takes teamwork, some
part-time help, and a lot of emotional
resilience.
PRESS HOME
OYSTER BAY COVE
ELEGANT ESTATE
ASKS $3.4M
A grand, Colonial mansion on an expansive,
2.5-acre estate is listed for sale at
16 Forest Ct. in Oyster Bay Cove.
This enormous property has loads of luxurious
amenities, including an inground
swimming pool and pool house, a wine
cellar, tennis and basketball courts, a 3-hole
putting green and range, and a large outdoor
seating area with an outdoor fi replace.
Built in 1888, the home itself is elaborately
elegant with many classic architectural
details inside and out. The fi rst fl oor
boasts an entry foyer with a grand staircase,
a sun-drenched, formal living room
with a fi replace, a formal dining room
with a fi replace and large windows, and
a gourmet, eat-in kitchen with doors that
lead to a private backyard patio.
The house has a total of fi ve bedrooms,
five full bathrooms, and two half
bathrooms. The second fl oor hosts the
master suite, two additional bedrooms,
and laundry room. On the third fl oor,
there is another bedroom, full bathroom,
and den/offi ce. The full, fi nished
basement houses the den/playroom and
the wine cellar.
The home is nestled in a gated community,
the Tall Oaks development,
surrounded by well-kept landscaping.
It is located in the Cold Spring Harbor
School District.
The asking price is $3,499,000, not including
the annual property tax of $43,616.
The real estate agents listed for the
property are Angela Dooley and Nicholas
Colombos, of Compass Greater NY LLC,
who can be reached at 516-517-4751.
-BB The house was built in 1888.
/LONGISLANDPRESS.COM