The aging population is growing at an exponential rate and more homeowners are interested in staying in their home as long as they can. With more people interested in aging in place, homeowners are now looking to make changes to their home so it’s easier for them to stay in it for the duration. If you’re looking to make changes to your home so you can spend your golden years in it, or want to help a loved one redesign their home, here are some considerations you should keep in mind throughout the process.
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Overall Design
No matter what room you’re remodeling, there are a few universal considerations you should keep in mind. If you or your loved one have mobility issues, then you should assume you’ll be remodeling for handicapped accessibility, which includes creating wider doorways, ramp installations, creating an open floor plan, and lever door handles that are easy to open.
Bathrooms
Bathrooms need careful consideration to ensure you’re meeting all building code requirements while providing the right space to minimize accidents. Some things you will want to implement into your bathroom remodel include walk-in showers or tubs, a slip-resistant treatment on your flooring, easy grab bars near the toilet and shower, seat extenders on your toilet, and a handheld showerhead.
Kitchens
Since we spend so much time in our kitchens, it’s important to include the proper adjustments to make it functional for you as you age. This includes accommodations such as installing under-cabinet lighting, rounding the edges on your countertops, adjusting the height and placement of your sink and installing conveniences such as hands-free faucets and putting in cabinet hardware that’s easy to use.
These helpful design tips can make aging in place much easier and convenient for homeowners who want to spend their retirement years enjoying the home they’ve spent most of their lives in.