Motorized blinds should be added to homes with older adults

Many baby boomers these days have found themselves to be part of the sandwich generation - caring for adult children and elderly parents at the same time. In some cases, seniors may be living in the house and some precautions should be taken to accommodate these olde radults, according to The Times Herald-Record.

Bathrooms should be modified with grab bars in showers, and adult) children may also want to remove potentially slippery rug. It can be important to review other surfaces to make sure they are free of clutter or other obstacles.

Staircases can also be made safer with light switches at the bottom and top of the steps, and nonslip treads can be a valuable installation for each step.

The bedroom should also be designed for an older adult's needs. A lamp or flashlight should be near the bed in case a senior has to get up in the middle of the night, and pets should be kept out of the room entirely, because 86,000 falls a year are due to tripping over small animals, the news source reports.

Motorized blinds can be another good addition to a room, because these window treatments can be raised or lowered with the flip of a switch. Seniors won't have to fumble with curtain cords or cross a dimly-lit room to open them.