The household computer has become as standard as telephones and televisions.

Most families use their computers to access the Internet, and seniors are no exception. According to a recent Pew Internet survey, 51 percent of adults between the ages of 50 and 64 are online, and 15 percent of the 65-and-older population is also.

While most seniors initially may have used the Internet to communicate with their family and friends, they also have found a whole world of information at their fingertips — including new ways to research products, services, investments and general information. This ability to research companies has become important to homeowners who hire contractors and tradespeople for their home maintenance and repair projects.

A survey by the AARP found that more than two-thirds of older Americans describe themselves as very satisfied with their housing and community circumstances. A sizable majority of respondents own a traditional single-family house, have lived in their home for many years, and plan to remain there for the rest of their lives.

However, most homes are designed for young adults and don’t have the features and conveniences to make them appropriate and safe for seniors. A well-adapted home will make many day-to-day living tasks both easier and safer — often preventing the most common kinds of accidents. Sometimes installation of grab bars and handrails can make all the difference for an aging homeowner.

Disabilities that can affect one’s ability to function independently and safely include loss of mobility, loss or decrease in hearing, vision or strength, and loss of the abilities to lift and reach. A decrease in dexterity (ability to open doors, turn knobs, etc.), a declining sense of smell (ability to smell smoke), and the onset of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease are other disabilities to consider. Changing lighting and flooring and replacing doorknobs with levers are some remodeling projects that can help give those with disabilities more independence and privacy, save time, provide convenience and increase the general safety in a home.

In general, there are four types of adaptations you should consider in your home:

• Mobility into and throughout your home.

• Handholds and railings.

• Easy-to-use handles and controls.

• Other safety adaptations.

Mobility

As we get older, we have more difficulty getting around and steps become a significant barrier. Even if we never use a wheelchair, most of us would like to be able to make better use of grocery-bag carts, strollers, wheeled trashcans, wheeled luggage and a variety of other conveniences. All these devices are stopped cold by steps. Like wheelchairs, they are also difficult to maneuver in tight spaces once inside the home.

One of the easiest ways to make your home easier to live in is to design it so that at least one entrance to the main living level can be accessed without going up or down steps. In many cases, this means rerouting or re-grading the front walk and porch. If this is done in conjunction with replacing a walkway, there will be little, if any, additional cost.

Inside the home, there usually aren’t many steps that are easily eliminated. Just make sure that if you put on an addition, it isn’t necessary to use steps to get into it.

Another approach that works well is to prepare for single-level living. This means that as you make changes over the years, seek to give yourself the option of living entirely on one level — even if only temporarily. That means making sure the full bath, kitchen and main bedroom are all on one level. Having laundry facilities on the same level is also a big plus.

Maneuverability is most critical in the kitchen and the bathroom. Use floor surfaces that don’t become slippery when wet. Widen spaces and doorways. Whenever possible, design doorways that are 36 inches wide. Also, try to eliminate thresholds (those wooden, metal or stone bumps on floors in doorways) bigger than ½ inch. Make sure the thresholds used have beveled (sloped) edges. While you don’t give any thought to them when you are fully mobile, they present real obstacles to wheelchairs and other wheeled devices. These changes will not only make your home wheelchair friendly, but also give it a more open, spacious feel.

Handholds and Railings

The next issue to focus on is handholds. Many serious falls could be prevented with adequate railings and grips.

This is especially true in the bathroom. Make sure you’ve got plenty of support around the toilet and the tub or shower. Does every step in the house have an adequate railing? Be aware that many original stair banisters aren’t strong enough to support an adult’s body weight. That is why railings need to be checked and reinforced if necessary.

A room-by-room review of handles and knobs can yield a substantial list of inadequacies. Doorknobs, window handles, faucets and other controls can be difficult for many people. Make sure they are easy to operate.

The kitchen may be the most critical room of all. Can the stove control knobs be reached without risking a burn? Will knobs be easy to turn as hands become less nimble? How about the sink faucet? What about all those cabinet and drawer handles?

Other Safety Issues

The odds are that your neighborhood will become less safe over time. Have you taken adequate home security measures? Do you have bright, automatic external lights? What about internal lighting?

As people get older, they need brighter light to see the same things. Reading lights need to be brighter. Well-lit stairs become more important.

An intercom provides added safety and a convenient way to communicate with others when it’s difficult to get around. Something as simple as a peephole in the front door can be helpful.

Burns are one of the most common injuries that older people face. In some cases, you can eliminate the use of the stove entirely for heating water. There are hot-water dispensers that can be set up like another faucet in your sink.

Scalding hot water also causes many injuries in the bathroom. It’s not unusual for someone to fall in the shower or tub, hitting the faucet on the way down. What if the water temperature is suddenly increased and you can’t get to the controls? Even moderately hot water will cause burns if allowed to flow for several minutes. A number of manufacturers make faucets that have a built-in scald prevention mechanism. They automatically cut off if the temperature exceeds a preset maximum.

There are numerous online sources to obtain help or learn more about assuring independence for seniors.