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Local hardware business offers free home-safety walk-throughs and retrofit services for seniors
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Summary
Eric Hassett of Hassett Ace Hardware described a free property walk-through and punch-list service for Woodside residents and demonstrated retrofit products designed to reduce fall risk in older homes.
Eric Hassett, owner and operator of Hassett Ace Hardware, told Woodside attendees his company will provide on-site assessments and a prioritized punch list of home modifications intended to reduce fall and injury risk for older residents.
"I'm actually not here to sell you guys anything. I just wanna give you guys some ideas of where we can go," Hassett said, describing a service that begins with a no-obligation walk-through and ends with a tailored list of recommended changes.
Hassett said his business, which operates six Bay Area hardware stores, also offers a licensed, bonded and insured team of six craftsmen who can perform many of the recommended retrofits. Examples Hassett and his staff showed at the meeting included motion-sensor lighting, smart switches, accessible doorknobs that can be bumped open, improved outdoor and pathway lighting, no-step shower conversions, grab-bar installations, and a new rubberized flooring product that looks like hardwood but is designed to absorb impact.
Hassett encouraged residents to start with small projects — adding a grab bar in a key bathroom location or improving lighting — and to take a staged approach for larger renovations. He emphasized aesthetics and practical installation techniques: newer railings and fixtures can be installed in ways that do not make the home look “like a hospital,” he said.
The business will take appointments by calling Kaye, Hassett's office manager at his Redwood City store. Hassett said the assessments are intended to leave homeowners with a prioritized list; homeowners can then decide whether to hire Hassett's team to perform the work.
Hassett also described his personal experience caring for older family members that informed his business offering: after weather-related access problems and safety concerns at a hillside home, he said his family moved his parents to a flatter property and completed extensive accessibility upgrades.
Ending: Brochures describing the assessment service and contact details were available at the meeting; Hassett said he would remain after the presentations to answer individual questions and that Kaye schedules the follow-up visits.
