Walter Kalaf knows what it's like to feel uncomfortable in his own home, especially after knee surgery.
"As we get older, we need all the help we can get," Kalaf explained. "I felt a little insecure getting in and out of the shower."
Grab bars in the shower made a big difference.
"Not having those to hang on to, I think I might of felt a little bit more uneasy about the possibility of falling," Kalaf said.
That's why engineers at the University of Florida are studying ways of improving independent living and researching what they call a "smart house."
"An important aspect of the smart house is that it has to address entrances doors, hallways, doors. Everything has to be oversized," said Sumi Helal, director of Gator Tech Smart House.
"We have a sensor on the flush simply to know that the person has started their day, and to know that he or she is flushing," Helal explained. "Another feature is a pull down cabinet. You have a grab bar."
Something else that's already in stores is a fast-cooling stove that turns off automatically to prevent burns. And, special knobs monitor and lock water temperature while grab bars around the shower and a walk in threshold are also recommended.
Meanwhile, engineers are researching some futuristic ideas, including a smart microwave that reads the food label and sets the cooking time automatically and an application that senses a person's tosses and turns and measures sleep quality.
Since not all of this technology is available at stores yet, however, researchers said low-tech solutions are a great start to ensure quality of life and independence at any age.
An AARP report shows nine out of 10 people 65 and over would like to stay in their own homes for as long as possible. The organization provides a "Home Fit Guide" to help homeowners stay in their homes as long as possible.
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