Aging In Place, Shaping Your Home for Your Future

According to US Census, the 65 and older population now totals 38.6 million and  is expected to grow as “baby boomers” reach retirement age. Housing trends have shown that this boomer group has started small with their first homes and then consistently “traded up” to larger homes.  With today’s housing situation, many people find themselves ready to sell their larger homes as they age and their family size shrinks, but the market has prevented sales.  This leaves many charting their next move and often their path leads them to the Aging in Place concept.  Through design and renovation, many people are modifying their current homes to accomodate their needs as their mobility diminishes. This enables people to retain the value and equity they have in their homes as well as stay in a neighborhood they may have deep ties to.  If you are thinking about renovating a home you are currently in, thinking ahead to the future can be valuable.  Do you see this as perhaps a “forever home”? Careful planning with a designer or architect can open the options for your later years.

There are many modifications one can make to one’s home to make it more user friendly to someone of advanced age. Bathrooms can sometimes pose the largest challenge but can often yield the largest return. Nothing can be more dangerous or curb one’s independance, like a slippery tub and less than agile legs or compromised balance.  The study of universal design, made popular as a concept in the 1990’s, allows for the user’s changing needs. Instead of a shower/tub combination, a roll-in style shower may be used. A bathroom can be designed to accomodate not just the usual towel bars but stable grab bars as well.  The traditional vanity may not be the best choice for someone who may need to use a walker or wheelchair.  Lever handles on doors or cabinetry can assist someone with difficulty gripping. Light switches can be automatic and on motion sensors. The automatic soap dispensers often found in commercial applications, are available and can be installed in the home. The available aids are truly limitless. The challenge is only to think and plan ahead and have your design and renovation reflect this advanced planning.  At Home ReBuilders, we have a staff well versed in the Aging in Place movement.  We’d love to talk to you about your changing needs.