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Most adults between 50 and 80 believe growing old in their homes is essential. Who can blame you for wanting to age in place after decades of repaying your mortgage? Downsizing your house can be practical, but searching for, buying, and moving into a new property in an unfamiliar neighborhood can have more drawbacks than benefits. How does it impact aging in place?
Spending your twilight years where you live is a terrific idea when you modify it accordingly. The problem is only 53% of aging adults have given aging-in-place improvements considerable or some thought. Consider these seven remodeling tips to make your space safe and comfortable as you age.
Most adults between 50 and 80 believe growing old in their homes is essential. Who can blame you for wanting to age in place after decades of repaying your mortgage? Downsizing your house can be practical, but searching for, buying, and moving into a new property in an unfamiliar neighborhood can have more drawbacks than benefits.
Spending your twilight years where you live is a terrific idea when you modify it accordingly. The problem is only 53% of aging adults have given aging-in-place improvements considerable or some thought. Consider these nine remodeling tips to make your space safe and comfortable as you age.
1. Address Slippery Entry
Does your home sit atop a steep driveway? If so, an automatic garage door opener is a must. This feature allows you to climb the hill while carrying groceries, especially once winter weather turns your asphalt into an ice skating rink.
Ensuring all stairs leading to entryways have sufficient hand support is vital. You must install railings if your front walkway has nothing but concrete steps.
Nonslip mats are must-haves if you live in snow country. Put them on your front stairs to melt snow and eliminate the need for shoveling.
Widen your front door frame. It must be at least 36 inches wide per ADA standards and a ramp to allow wheelchair access.
2. Ease Arthritis Burden
Standard doorknobs can trigger arthritis flares, making them taxing to operate. Replace traditional knobs with handles to push your doors with your hands, arms or elbows with ease.
Fan and blind pulls might seem like minor details, but suitable models make a world of difference in comfort. Look for those with a sizable ball or other attachment at the end to make it easier to maneuver.
3. Reimagine Stair Design
About 14 million adults 65 and older report falling yearly, requiring medical attention or activity restrictions for at least a day. If you live in a multistory house, rethink your stairs’ design to age in place more safely without sacrificing mobility.
Install handrails on both sides of the stairs. Use visible color markings to distinguish each step, too.
A stair lift is a terrific addition to neutralize the dangers of moving from one floor to another while having poor eyesight, slower instincts and more fragile bones. Retrofitting an elevator to your house makes moving bulky and heavy items around the house more convenient as you age.
4. Revamp Your Kitchen
Redesign your kitchen to eliminate the need to stretch, bend and carry heavy objects while you do your daily cooking. Its new layout allows for wheelchair turns to keep your space livable if you develop mobility problems.
Lower your cabinetry by three inches and install open shelving for better access to frequently used items. Keep your microwave at a counter height rather than above your oven.
Hardware, lazy susans and roll-out trays can make your cabinetry more accessible while enhancing the look of your cooking space. Ensure you have enough counter space beside or across your kitchen appliances. This way, you can set down dishes and cookware in a snap.
5. Optimize Your Bedroom
Sleeping on the main floor is also worth pondering. Having a first-floor bedroom means you no longer have to navigate the stairs often, dramatically reducing the likelihood of fall-related accidents.
Install bed safety rails to comfortably get in and out of bed. Keep a landline or mobile phone at the bedside if a health or safety concern arises. This way, you can quickly call loved ones or emergency services.
Regarding bedroom organization, declutter your space. At the very least, reorganize your wardrobe’s contents to make your closet easier to navigate. Get rid of high shelves, too.
6. Rethink Your Bathroom
A senior-friendly bathroom reduces the risk of sustaining a broken hip and undergoing intensive physical therapy.
Affix grab bars near the toilet and within the shower enclosure. Secure them with flanges and lag bolts. Reinforce your walls, too. Install 2-by-8 blocks between your studs to provide an appropriate mounting surface.
Bathtub lips are a common tripping hazard. Swap your soaking tub for a walk-in shower stall or a walk-in tub to have one less thing to worry about.
7. Prepare for Mobility Devices
Pushing a walker across a shag carpet can be challenging when you have mobility difficulties. Consider ripping up thick-pile carpets and have bare flooring. Hardwood is your safest bet.
Tile is workable, but it’s hard if you fall. Laminate floors are aging-in-place-friendly and come in various colors and styles to suit your decor.
Whatever material you choose, ensure your floors are always clutter-free. Anything that stands in the way can trip you, so organize your items and ensure your furniture arrangement makes walking around with a mobility device painless.
8. Maximize Natural Light
Your visual acuity tends to fade with age — an unfortunate reality for many senior citizens. Still, proper lighting can help you see things better and enjoy your daily routine.
Use windows, skylights or glass blocks to brighten things up. Natural light offers numerous benefits — one of which is regulating your circadian rhythm. The sun tells you when to wake and rest, so allowing more daylight can help you develop healthier sleep patterns.
Remove heavy blackout curtains and replace them with gauzy models, letting light stream through. Lighter paint colors, shiny finishes and mirrors also spread illumination in rooms with few or without windows.
Regarding artificial lighting, choose LEDS over incandescent and overhead fluorescent bulbs. LED lighting uses up to 90% less energy and lasts 25 times longer than traditional lights. LEDs can set the mood in your house because they’re available in various colors.
9. Embrace Automation
Smart home technology can help you do more with less effort. A smart speaker lets you talk with a virtual assistant — a robot based on artificial intelligence that can answer any questions under the sun.
Smart thermostats can automate indoor temperature adjustments. They learn your setting preferences using historical heating and cooling equipment usage data. This way, they can teach themselves how to keep your spaces comfortable throughout the day.
With a smart doorbell, you can remotely see the people at your doorstep and converse with them through your mobile device. If you pair it with a smart lock, you can unlock the door with a tap of a button.
Dealing with smart home technologies can be intimidating initially, but you’ll eventually get used to them. They can make your life easier, safer and more comfortable once you get the hang of using them.
Remodel Your Home to Age Well
Aging in place is more than avoiding assisted living care expenses. It’s a means to maintain independence — an opportunity to continue living in a house with sentimental value and enjoy the sense of community you love about your neighborhood. Use the above tips to remodel your home accordingly and spend the next chapter of your life in safety and comfort.
Original Publish Date 2/11/2023 — Updated 2/26/2024
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About The Author
Rose is the managing editor of Renovated and a freelance writer with over five years of experience.
She's most interested in researching topics on sustainable construction, such as new technologies and innovations in the built environment. She also loves sharing home projects and inspiration for even the most novice DIY-ers. Rose's favored topics and values stem from growing up in a family of contractors.
When she isn't writing, you'll find her baking something to satisfy her never-ending sweet tooth and spending time with her cats. For more about Rose, you can reach out on LinkedIn and check out her portfolio online.
