BLOG CATEGORIES
Life Safety Considerations When Renting to Seniors
Senior renters are on the rise, according to a study by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies. Among those renters, tenants in their fifties and sixties make up the bulk of the increase. Why? Perhaps because more and more people of this generation (Baby Boomers) are downsizing from their larger family homes. Renting allows them not to have as much responsibility or stress when it comes to home maintenance. However, renting to a more seasoned crowd sometimes comes with a separate set of issues and concerns that you may not face with younger tenants.
Find out how to improve safety and reduce costs at your property
Our best-in-class emergency phone + monitoring solutions provide peace of mind and are backed by decades of expertise
Learn More
2022 ELLIES WINNER
Best Supplier -
Communication System
Find out how to improve safety and reduce costs at your property
Our best-in-class emergency phone + monitoring solutions provide peace of mind and are backed by decades of expertise
Learn More2022 ELLIES WINNER
Best Supplier -
Communication System
Here are just a few considerations:
Know and implement safety requirements.
Find out what will keep your senior tenants safe and protected. These could include accessibility ramps, staircase handrails, security cameras, panic buttons, alert bracelets, good locks and maybe even a safe. Keep hallways and stairs clear of debris, and make sure they’re well lit.
Allow pets.
Many people of an older age depend on pets for companionship and emotional support. Rules and regulations regarding pets are often found within the lease. If you do allow pets, you may want to ask your tenants to provide carpet to help mute the sound or animals walking around the space.
Make contact.
Ask your senior tenants for emergency contacts, just in case. These could be close relatives or nearby friends, even if they live on your property.
Make your space senior-friendly.
According to Seniorguidance.org, here are some ways to make your space safe for seniors:
-
- Non-slip flooring in kitchen and bathroom areas
-
- Wheelchair-accessible bathrooms
-
- Grab bars in areas where seniors are prone to falling or losing balance
-
- Emergency pull cords
-
- Spacious, single level layouts to eliminate use of stairs
-
- Modern appliances
-
- Various floor plans to choose from
The Harvard study also finds that there still are not enough accessible units to serve the growing number of tenants with physical challenges. In 2016, the study says, 17 percent of households age 50 and over included someone who had difficulty climbing stairs or walking.
Many older tenants also live alone, according to the study. The share of households 80 and over that are single-person is 57 percent. Among renters of that same age, 77 percent live alone. Many of them must rely on non-resident or paid caregivers, and may have lower incomes than those who live in larger households.
FREE GUIDE: The Five Key Elements of Property Safety >>
One of the most vital amenities when protecting seniors: reliable emergency communications.
With senior tenants often come health emergencies. Kings III emergency help phones are answered by operators who are trained and certified at a level that requires more education than the typical staff of a 911 emergency center. For instance, Kings III staff will provide emergency assistance over the phone until help arrives. Peace of mind is often hard to come by for senior tenants (as well as property managers). Taking precautions like this could make a large difference.
To learn more about how Kings III can increase the safety and value of your facility, contact us here.
CATEGORIES TAGGED
CATEGORIES
KEEP LEARNING
Winter-Proof Your Elevators
When elevators break down or work improperly, especially during inclement weather, we are reminded of their vital importance. Pay attention to the following items, especially in winter weather, to help keep your elevators running safely and smoothly.
Kings III Makes The Dallas Morning News Top 100 Places to Work List Becoming a 3x Winner
We're honored to be recognized by our employees and The Dallas Morning News by making the daily newspaper’s Top 100 Places to Work list for the 3rd year in a row, falling in at 28th in the midsize companies category.
Best Practices for Using Video Surveillance on Your Property
Video surveillance is a common life safety tool for property managers. In fact, the latest elevator safety codes show how it can even be an essential component of emergency response for those with a disability. Here are some best practices to keep in mind when adding video surveillance to your security mix.
Saving Labor and Service Costs During Inflation
We simply can’t ignore the elephant in the room: inflation is causing unprecedented rises in prices. Learn how turnkey solutions with maintenance included can be your saving grace as a property manager.
How Your Life Safety Devices are Impacted by Landline Technology Phaseout
In our space, there’s been a lot of chatter about FCC Order 10-72a1 and how it is impacting copper/analog/plain old telephone service (POTS) phone lines. With this comes deteriorating service and significantly higher phone line costs. Learn your best options for addressing this with your emergency phones.
May is Building Safety Month
Building Safety Month is an international campaign celebrated in May to raise awareness about building safety. Learn more about what you can do to further the initiative here in this blog post.
What You Need to Know About IBC 2021 Elevator Phone Code Requirements
While it’s been over a year since IBC 2021 was released, many are still familiarizing themselves with the elevator phone code requirements and how to navigate them, as significant accessibility changes have been made. We’re here to help clear that up for you.
Property Safety for Deaf & Hard of Hearing Tenants
Although, of course, those with hearing loss or deafness can continue to live independent and productive lives, there are unique needs and accommodations associated with them, and it is in your best interest as a property manager to keep their safety in mind. Here are some considerations to make when helping to protect your deaf/hard-of-hearing tenants.
How To Deter Illegal Activity On Your Property
Here, we list the most common types of illegal activities that take place on multifamily residential properties and how you can sniff them out. Finally, we detail the steps you can take once you discover the illegal activity while reducing the chance of harm to you and other tenants.