Your home is one of your biggest investments. Owning a home comes with numerous responsibilities, and many are costly and seem never-ending. It’s important to keep up with maintenance, but those tasks become increasingly more difficult as we get older. If you or your aging loved one lives in their own home, here is a list of must-do tasks for keeping your house up-to-date and yourself safe.
Clean your gutters.
Throughout the year, you will need to inspect your gutters to prevent them from getting clogged with debris. Clogged gutters need cleaned to prevent water from leaking into your home and damaging your foundation. Since climbing ladders can be dangerous, find a family member, friend or handyman who can help you with this task.
Inspect the HVAC system.
Each year, schedule a professional to come inspect your heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. Regular maintenance can extend the life of the system, help lower energy bills and prevent an unsafe environment in the home. Changing air filters each month will also help keep the HVAC system running properly.
Replace smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector batteries.
One of the most important things to do every year is to test and replace the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Pick a day each year to go around your home and swap out the batteries in all your detectors. This quick and simple task could make a life-saving difference if an emergency occurs.
Flush your water heater.
Most plumbers suggest flushing your water heater once a year to release sediment build up that can solidify within the system. If not flushed regularly, you could face expensive repairs, system malfunctions or even total failure.
Check seals around windows and doors.
Once or twice a year, usually during big transitions in the seasons, check your windows and doors for leaky seals. Caulk any open spaces to prevent cold air from seeping in your home while avoiding costly energy bills.
Clean your dryer exhaust.
Regular dryer vent cleaning is crucial not only to the efficiency of your appliance, but also the safety of your home. You can reduce your chances of a fire starting in your laundry room by cleaning out the lint buildup in your dryer vent once a year.
Is It Time to Transition to Senior Living?
One of the greatest joys of retirement is being able to enjoy a carefree lifestyle with as few worries as possible. However, when daily home maintenance and costly upkeep pervade life, it is difficult to remain stress-free.
One way you or your older parent can take a step towards a maintenance-free lifestyle is by downsizing to a senior living community. Here are some clues that it may be time to transition to assisted living:
- You’re no longer using all the space or rooms in your home.
- Cleaning and maintaining your home feels overwhelming and difficult to maintain.
- Your home maintenance expenses are eating into your monthly budget.
- You have suffered a fall or injury while trying to repair, clean or maintain your home.
At Country Place Senior Living, we offer maintenance-free living rooted in a welcoming community filled with resort-style amenities, fun activities and engaging opportunities to live a life that inspires our residents. If you’re tired of home maintenance and want to spend more time doing the things you love, the Country Place lifestyle could be your next great move. Contact us today to learn more about our community and to schedule a tour.
