Handyman Help Designed For Seniors

You’ll call an electrician to rewire your house or a plumber to replace a cracked pipe. For DIY-type home improvements and repairs, a handyman can offer an affordable alternative. I can install a replacement for an old garbage disposal, swap in an accessible doorknob/ lock set, install an easier to turn handle/ faucet set, hang curtain rods and pictures, exchange a light fixture, etc. If you have a task like this to tackle, give me a call. As always, if I am not the right man for the job I will let you know and assist with a referral.

It looked nice on the IKEA or Target or Amazon website… but now you have to assemble it. I will be happy to help.

I can also repair many lamps, your trusty old iron, wooden furniture, etc. I will be happy to take a look at your item and give you my opinion. If it’s not in my wheelhouse (I won’t try to recane your rocking chair!), I will refer you to someone who specializes in that kind of work.

Climbing up on a ladder to change lightbulbs or air filters, swap in new smoke detector batteries, or clean ceiling fan blades may feel a little precarious. Tasks that once were manageable can become formidable due to a bad back, troublesome knee or arthritic hands. Some jobs are just easier to outsource- moving a heavy piece of furniture, filling the water softener with salt, cleaning a dryer vent hose, etc.

Most of us will want or need to stay in our homes as we age. Many small adjustments, such as grab bars in bathrooms and at entry doors, can help make aging at home safer. I would be happy to help you make some reassuring safety improvements. A resource to consider: https://www.consumerreports.org/home-garden/home-safety/how-to-age-proof-your-home-a6207544241/ . (Thanks to our friend Alice for providing that link!)

Have a modest outdoor job you aren’t sure who to call about? I can assist with overgrown areas of the yard, after-storm branch pickup, stablizing a wobbly bannister or installing a new one, repairing minor damage (recently, woodpecker damage to a home exterior!) , washing away green mossy stains on the north side of your home, power-washing pavers and patios, screen repair, removing leaves from your porch, mulching a flower bed, or cleaning up when the show of daylilies or peonies is over at season’s end. If you have an outdoor job and wonder if I can help, give me a call!

Happiness as we age can mean finding new ways to pursue the hobbies we have always loved. I am happy to help you with tasks such as: regular winter birdfeeding, squirrel-feeding (or baffling!), and strategizing to more easily manage pet food, water and cat litter in your home. I would like to help you continue to enjoy your animal family members and the outdoor creatures you love despite mobility, dexterity, or injury challenges.

Gardening can be more difficult as we age, but you might not want to give up on home-grown tomatoes! I can help with planting, watering, or tilling. Even better, I can help you establish easy to manage raised garden beds- a low maintenance, high enjoyment solution! They offer reduced trouble from weeds and relief from crouching and kneeling. (We keep a chair next to ours!) I would be happy to build and plant a raised bed for you, a strawberry pyramid, or a butterfly garden!

Holiday celebrations bring joy and stir memories. Have you ever felt that you needed to give up a valued home holiday tradition due to mobility issues, injuries, or some loss of strength?

Whatever holidays you celebrate, I would be honored to help you maintain your traditions and the pleasures of the season. For example, I would be happy to help you find a Christmas tree and transport it into your house, set it up, decorate it if you need help, and remove it at the end of the season. I can set up displays around doors, in yards, and hang lights on the first floor of homes. It would be a pleasure to learn what I can do to help you enjoy your Diwali, Lunar New Year, Hanukkah, or other holiday traditions.

Some tasks might be no big deal if your kids or grandkids were nearby to help, but become troublesome when health issues arise and those helpers are out of reach. For example, when back pain is acting up or balance is feeling off, it might be a relief to have someone else pull the weekly trash cans to the curb. Of course, sometimes difficulties serve to tell us that we need a higher level of help, such as an assisted living situation. But I’m happy to consider negotiating an affordable monthly rate for smaller tasks if doing that could help you continue to live safely at home.