Brochure provides advice on apartment modifications for seniors

Prague - The new brochure, designed to advise families on how best to adapt their apartments for seniors, was presented today by the Diaconia of the Czech Church of the Brethren. It aims to distribute the brochure primarily to seniors' households through a network of social workers. People should find guidance on how to most effectively remodel their apartments, where to turn for more information, or what state contributions are available for renovations.
    The results of a survey indicated to the Diaconia that only one-third of seniors have barrier-free apartments. Only 13 percent of respondents have a barrier-free shower stall, while 28 percent have a barrier-free bathroom. According to the Diaconia, approximately 1.6 million people over 65 live in households.
    "Our standards do not currently state that apartments should be built to be adaptable without significant investment. The Ministry for Regional Development tried to change that, but it only made it part of the section on the construction of social housing," said Eva Grollová from the Diaconia at a press conference today.
    According to Pavel Rakouš from the Ministry for Regional Development, changes are planned, but they do not yet have a specific form. He mentioned this in a document that the Diaconia filmed regarding the issue of senior housing. "It is unfair that assistance cannot be provided for private housing modifications. We are preparing changes, but it is still in its infancy," Rakouš stated in the film.
    The document is expected to be distributed to the public just like the brochure. The main goal of the project, according to Grollová, is to stimulate a discussion among people about the necessity of adapting apartments for seniors. "It is natural that a child’s room is prepared and the home is secured before a child is born to ensure nothing happens to them. The same should apply for seniors. People should think about this while they are still capable of adapting their apartments," Grollová added.
    According to data from the Czech Statistical Office, currently, 15 percent of the population is over 65. By 2050, this proportion will rise to a full third.
    
Proportion of rooms with barrier-free access in seniors' apartments:

Room	Living Room	Kitchen	Toilet	Bedroom	Bathroom	Shower Stall
Barrier-free	38%	34%	32%	31%	28%	13%