By Karen Tucker
No one relishes the prospect of having to move out of his or her home due to age-related health, mobility, or dexterity issues. In fact, more than half of homeowners 60 and older say they intend to stay in their current homes indefinitely, according to a recent survey by Houzz.
Fortunately, for people who want to stay put, a range of home improvements can make it easier to remain in your home as you grow older.
These improvements can also be attractive, so it won’t make a home look like “old people” live there!
“We’ve seen steadily increasing demand for this kind of design work and products,” says David Juarez, owner of DJ’s painting and remodeling. “The growth in the industry and availability of products has been huge. Today, the biggest challenge we have is getting people to understand they don’t have to settle for an industrial or commercial look in order to renovate their homes for aging in place.”
Juarez recommends people target key areas like bathrooms and kitchens to improve a house’s long-term livability, especially if budget is a concern. Like any other home renovation, proper planning and working with qualified contractors will ensure that the finished project meets your expectations. Juarez suggests the following things to consider before beginning a major project:
- Having everything on one floor is certainly the most ideal situation. If this is not the case in your current home, the best solution may be to add on a room addition — say, bedroom and bath. This is often less costly than trying to re-configure existing space or installing some sort of elevator or stair glide. Keep in mind that even one level homes often have narrow hallways that must be addressed.
- Most homes need to have the doorways widened to accommodate a walker or wheel chair. While this may seem like a simple adjustment, altering doorways usually involves reframing the entire door and affects other parts of the room such as the floor.
- Be sure that you can easily enter and exit your home. If there are steps, replace them with a ramp and make sure there are railings. Replace all doorknobs with levers as these are easier to use for anyone!
- Think carefully about bathroom modifications. A walk-in tub may seem like a good idea, but this still requires stepping over a ledge, and maneuvering through the doorway. A better solution is a large, curbless shower that is easy to enter and exit. This also looks very spa-like for the here and now. Forget about sliding doors and built-in seats. A freestanding portable seat can be adjusted as needed. Sliding doors block half of the opening, making it difficult to enter and hard for someone else to provide assistance.
- Grab bars are essential in the shower and by the toilet, but these do not need to have a hospital look! They can be designed to blend in with a tiled shower, and decorative grab bars can be used as towel holders or toilet paper holders.
- Kitchens are a high-utility and high-risk area of the home for seniors. Mobility and dexterity challenges can make everyday tasks like cooking and cleaning difficult to achieve in an ordinary kitchen. Focus on improvements to enhance accessibility, such as countertops with varying heights, and cabinets, sinks, and appliances that are easy to reach. There should be enough space between the island and counters to allow room for a walker or wheelchair. Keep this spacing in mind even if you are doing a general kitchen renovation as the wider space allows two people to be cooking at the same time without bumping into each other.
Everyone’s home is different so there isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” plan for modifying a home to age in place. The best time to plan for aging in place is before you encounter significant health or mobility issues. Since any remodeling project takes time to complete, if you should break a hip or need to recover from surgery, you will be able to go home instead of to an assisted living facility.
For more information about any home remodeling project, contact DJ’s Painting and Remodeling at 309-452-9643 or online at www.djspainting.com. They are located at 1502 E. Jackson and have the expertise to advise you on the home solutions that will fit your needs.