Page 16 - Hawaii Renovation - May 29, 2022
P. 16

  16 HAWAII RENOVATION
MAY 29, 2022
BACK PAGE STORY TROPICAL WHOLESALE
      No matter who we are, we get older. Most people don’t think it
may be time to be proac- tive for senior safety. I had to learn the hard way. My mother was visiting, and my wife and I were both not at home. When I came home, my mom informed me she had slipped and fallen. Af- ter two days at The Queen’s Medical Center and a lot of stress, I felt really bad for a number of reasons.
Sure, she was OK, but this made me think what could have happened.
Also, I’m a general con- tractor and a plumbing contractor, and have been since 1981. This could have
been prevented, and I, of all people, should have known better.
I am Matt, the owner of Tropical Windows and Baths. We specialize in semi-handicap bathrooms, tub-to-shower conversions, walk-in tubs and bathroom remodeling.
I was so busy working on other homes, I forgot about my home and how refusing to be proactive could affect one of the most important people in the world to me.
This changed my life, and I dug deeper into senior safety. When interviewing seniors ages 60-85, 90% of them felt there was no need for special safety precau-
tions in their homes. The main reasons were: I don’t feel old; I’m healthy; It’s a waste of money; It’s such an inconvenience.
Now, here are the real sta- tistics: 72% of all seniors get hurt in the bathroom; 88% of seniors are injured by unex- pected falls; 63% of all seniors have no hand-bars or other safety items in their home to prevent accidents.
Every major fall to a senior can take as much as three years off their life span. Also, if a senior falls three times or more in one year, they normally do not live more than four years from that year. Pretty scary if you love your senior mother, father or
other family members.
No fall, slip or trip is planned. No senior, or any- one for that matter, plans on getting hurt. The real ques- tion is what quality of life do I want now that I’m a senior
at age 63?
I have multiple bathrooms
in my home and all are semi- handicap fitted. My mother is now 93 and lives with me. She has not taken a fall since seven years ago, and I can tell you, from the day she fell, I became proactive. I have nonslip showers with handi-bars.
I have strategically in- stalled handi-bars anywhere there could be a dangerous step. I have installed non-slip
TROPICAL WHOLESALE
CONTACT 808-593-2000 • 808-263-1252 ADDRESS 1351 S. Beretania St., Honolulu WEB twoahu.com
 BACK PAGE STORY
floors in my entire home, as well as improved lighting for better visibility. I could go on and on about all the little ad- justments I have made, not only for my mother but now to benefit myself.
To sum this story up, I would like to first say be proactive about senior safety. Whether you call me to help you make your home a safe space or not, call someone and be pro-
active for your own safety. Again, I am the owner of Tropical, and I have a show- room with bathroom ideas and solutions at 1351 S. Bere- tania St. We are open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, and 10
a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays.
Give us a call, and my son, Mike, and we will be glad to help you live a long and
healthy life at home.
And remember, “buy lo-
cal!”
  



































































   12   13   14   15   16