Chris Town, Owner Of Town Construction And Development Here With Some More Great Tips FOR RENOVATING your Shoreline and Edmonds Home.
Whether out of necessity or preference, many seniors choose to age in the place they call home. However, such a home is most likely not well equipped to handle all of the changes that come with aging. Mobility issues, for one, can make life in such a home quite challenging. Fortunately, adapting your home to match the forthcoming chapters of an older adult’s life can help remedy such a situation. Whether you’re renovating a home for aging in place for a loved one, yourself, or even your future self, we can help you. Continue reading to avoid making major mistakes, and you’ll be ready to build an environment where a senior can live independently.
- Understand the present and plan for the future
You will need to self-reflect and analyze which parts of your life could be made easier. Likewise, keep your future self in mind when contemplating these renovations. After all, you may not require any of these helpful tips right now, but you may need them in the future. If you’re renovating a home for a loved one, on the other hand, be sure to have an open conversation about things they wish were more accessible in their day-to-day life.
Analyzing what you currently need and what your future self will need is critical when renovating a home for aging in place.
- Maximize available space
Regardless of age, the amount of space available in a home significantly impacts the quality of life a person can enjoy there. This is especially true for the elderly, as a clean, clutter-free house reduces the likelihood of mishaps such as falls. Look through your belongings, including furniture, decor, and souvenirs, and decide what you want to keep.
If there are items you wish to keep but have no business in your home, renting a storage unit is a good option.
After decluttering, double-check that everything is out of the way. There should be enough room for a person in a wheelchair or without one to move about easily. Move stuff off the ground if possible, and purchase smaller pieces of furniture. Finally, hire a contractor to
replace your doorway while keeping the insulation, paint, and any exposed cables safe. By widening your doorway, you will ensure that you can use your home regardless of your mobility situation.
- Make the floors safer to use
One of the most expensive aspects of renovating is the flooring. This is, nevertheless, a vital step when renovating a home for aging in place. If your budget allows, you can replace all of your home’s flooring with an anti-slip option like vinyl or linoleum. Bamboo and cork are also options, albeit more expensive ones.
However, if you’re on a tight budget, you can replace flooring in high-traffic areas. Another even more cost-effective option is to use non-slip pads wherever possible. It is also essential to emphasize the importance of ramps and the potential dangers of bumps, thresholds, and carpets that you can slip on.
You must ensure your house is accessible for your everyday needs no matter the age.
- Replace commonly used items with easier to use ones
Evaluate or ask the older adult for whom you are designing the space which items cause them the most problems. Doorknobs, for example, appear to be one of the most challenging items for people with arthritis or other similar disorders. In such a case, you may replace them with easier-to-use alternatives such as lever ones. Switches can also be substituted for rocker or touch switches to make them more accessible.
The bathroom is where most accidents happen for older people. Replace bathtubs and problematic showers with ones that can be easily entered and exited by anyone. Toilets and sinks, for example, may also be replaced to suit your needs better. If other pieces of furniture, such as your uncomfortable armchair, need to be replaced, be sure to look into different alternatives that can fit you better.
And if you’re downsizing and moving into a new home, possibly closer to family, be sure to instruct contractors about what you need clearly. If a long-distance move awaits you, make everything easier on you. Make sure you know how to handle the process to avoid stress and do your best, so your new home is comfortable and ready to move into right after you’ve arrived.
- Install helping tools
If you’ve already replaced certain items but still need assistance, don’t worry, there are plenty of readily available helping tools. Grab bars, for example, are an excellent item to use in locations where you need assistance getting up or moving around. This is especially useful in bathrooms and areas near stairwells. For example, bathing fatigue can be alleviated with a simple (and inexpensive) shower seat. So, explore whatever task you want to improve, and we are confident you’ll find a solution that fits you.
- Invest in smart technology
You’d be astonished at how much innovative technology can help people with limited physical abilities. Making such technology work for you is a fantastic way to improve your home’s accessibility. Appliances that automatically shut off, smart sensors that detect fires, carbon dioxide, and monoxide levels, smart thermostats that you can control from any smartphone, and a personal emergency response system (PERS) are most often used.
Smart technology allows you to adjust many features of your home with a simple click of a button.
- Illuminate the home as much as possible
When renovating a home for aging in place, one vital but sometimes overlooked step is to provide as much light as possible. Age hampers our capacity to see at night, and even dim lighting will not suffice. Ensure that each room, especially the most frequently used rooms, has enough lighting. Motion-activated lights and illuminated switches are necessary for anyone having trouble finding the light switch. If you’re remodeling your kitchen, task lights like the ones above the counters are a great option. Carefully examine your house at night to find any spots you missed.
Renovating a home for aging in place is not that hard, but it requires careful consideration. With our list of tips, you can be confident that you will cover all the essential points.
“Be good to your house and your house will be good to you:
All solutions for home living have some advantages and disadvantages…“There are no perfect solutions out there, only the ones that are perfect and work for you.”
Chris Town
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