THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 2021 Page 19 PLANNING | FROM Page 1 The major concerns about the project were voiced by Planning Board member Ed Deveau, who has consistently brought up the potential increase of traffi c the project will bring through Donnelly Square. The fi ve roads approved in the subdivision plan include two which are connected to Winthrop Avenue. One will be a right-turn in, right-turn out intersection, and the other - closer to the Beachmont T station - will be a fully signalized intersection. “From the very beginning, my primary concern has been the traffi c impact in Beachmont Square and Donnelly Square, and I think that every step of the way, I have pointed out the fact that whatever can be done in terms of the engineering and the strategy of the traffi c fl ow and how the traffi c fl ow needs to be designed so that it leads away from Donnelly Square rather than into it as much as possible,” said Deveau. Deveau also added that a planned temporary access road to Rte. 1A needs to be the fi rst roadway built as part of the project, and that steps need to be taken to incentivize people living in working in the development to access 1A rather than funneling through Donnelly Square. “What level of increase in traffi c for this project is going to occur in Donnelly Square given the current plan?” Deveau asked. “Because when I see a right in, right out, for example, the right out is bringing (traffi c) right into Donnelly Square. When I look at lighting allowing them to go in any direction, they are going to go into Donnelly Square, instead of left down the (Revere Beach) Parkway. “So I do still have concerns that not enough is being done to draw traffi c away from Donnelly Square rather than into it.” Barowsky said he has had many conversations with Deveau about the traffi c and understands his concerns. “We’ve done a thorough review with the state and with the Design Advisory Group in Revere, and we are putting a lot of work into the Phase 1 traffi c mitigation,” he said. “There is a lot of work being done all up and down the Winthrop Avenue corridor.” Barowsky also said there will be a lot of mitigation work done in Donnelly Square in addition to some improvements on Rte. 1A. “There’s a lot of work we are doing, all of which costs a lot of money,” he said. “We need to be able to have cars access the site, so we can’t force them to go only one way out of the site. We also want to make it easy for them to get to 1A; my feeling is that they would fi nd it better to get into the city via 1A rather than trying to go through Donnelly Square.” Deveau said he knows developers are doing much to address the traffi c concerns, but said he would still like to see more solid numbers about what the total increase in traffi c would be for Donnelly Square as a result of the project. Apart from the traffic concerns, several city offi cials spoke in favor of the project and the subdivision plan. “I’m very happy with how the development is going, and I think it will be a great improvement for the area and a plus for the city,” said Deputy Fire Chief Paul Cheever. How Seniors Can Make Their Bathrooms Safer and Easier to Use Dear Savvy Senior, What tips can you recommend for making a bathroom seniorfriendly? My 78-year-old mother has mobility problems and fell getting out of the bathtub last month. I’d like to modify her bathroom with some safety features that can help keep her safe. Concerned Daughter Dear Concerned, Great question! Because more accidents and injuries happen in the bathroom than any other room in the house, this is a very important room to modify, especially for seniors with mobility or balance problems. Depending on your mom’s needs and budget, here are some simple tips and product recommendations that can make her bathroom safer and easier to use. Floor: To avoid slipping, a simple fi x is to get non-skid bath rugs for the fl oors. Or if you want to put in a new fl oor get slip-resistant tiles, rubber or vinyl fl ooring, or install wall-to-wall carpeting. Lights: Good lighting is also very important, so install the highest wattage bulbs allowed for your mom’s bathroom fi xtures and get a plug-in nightlight that automatically turns on when the room gets dark. Bathtub/shower: To make bathSpace for Lease 3 Large Rooms, each with Large Walk-in Storage Area. or Aerobics Studio. Located at Route 1 South at Walnut Street. Rollerworld Plaza, Route 1 South, 425 Broadway, Saugus. Call Michelle at: 781-233-9507 ing safer, purchase a rubber suction-grip mat, or put down adhesive nonskid tape on the tub/shower fl oor. And have a carpenter install grab bars in and around the tub/shower for support. If your mom uses a shower curtain, install a screw or bolt-mounted curtain rod, versus a tensionmounted rod, so that if she loses her balance and grabs the shower curtain the rod won’t spring loose. For easier access and safer bathing, consider getting your mom a shower or bathtub chair so she can bathe from a seated position. In addition, you should also have a handheld, adjustable-height showerhead installed that makes chair bathing easier. If your mom has the budget for it, another good option is to install a curb-less shower or a walk-inbathtub. Curb-less showers have no threshold to step over, and come with a built-in seat, grab bars, slip resistant floors and an adjustable handheld showerhead. While walk-in tubs have a door in front that provides a much lower threshold to step over than a standard tub. They also have a built-in seat, handrails and a slip resistant bottom, and some have therapeutic features like whirlpool water jets and/or bubble massage air jets. Curb-less showers and walkin-tubs run anywhere between $2,500 and $10,000 installed. Toilet: Most standard toilets are around 15 inches high and can be an issue for taller seniors with arthritis, back, hip or knee problems. If your mom has trouble getting on or off the toilet, a simple solution is to purchase a raised toilet seat that clamps to the toilet bowl, and/or purchase toilet safety rails that sit on each side of the seat for support. Or, you can install a new ADA compliant “comfort height” toilet that is 16-to-19 inches high. Faucets: If your mom has twist handles on the sink, bathtub or shower faucets, consider replacing them with lever handle faucets, or with a touch, motion or digital smart faucet. They’re easier to operate, especially if she has hand arthritis or gripping problems. Also note that it only takes 130-degree water to scald someone, so turn her hot water heater down to 120 degrees. Doorway: If your mom needs a wider bathroom entrance to accommodate a walker or wheelchair, an inexpensive solution is to install some swing clear off set hinges on the door which will expand the doorway an additional two inches. Emergency assistance: As a safety precaution, you should also consider purchasing a voice-enabled medical alert system like Get Safe (GetSafe.com) for her bathroom. This device would let her call for help by simple voice command, or by pushing a button or pulling a cord. You can find all of these suggested products at either medical supply stores, pharmacies, big-box stores, home improvement stores, hardware and plumbing supply stores, as well as online. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
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