In recent years, the remodeling industry has seen a growing trend: aging-in-place remodeling. This trend has been driven by baby boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964). As this generation gets older, their desire to stay in the comfort of their own homes increases. According to a Cornell University study, an estimated 100,000 additional elderly persons could be living at home, if only they had a support network and the right accommodations.
Fortunately, with careful planning and – most commonly – kitchen and bathroom remodeling, virtually any home can be made to be aging-in-place compatible. Here are some of the basic renovations you should expect to do.
- Wider doorways. One of most important changes that will need to be made in order to stay in your home is to widen doorways. There’s a strong possibility that at some point you will need a walker or wheelchair, so doorways must be at least 32 inches wide to accommodate them. As you remodel other rooms, keep maneuverability in mind – your nice new bathroom or kitchen won’t do you much good if there’s not enough room to maneuver a wheelchair or other assistive device.
- First-floor laundry room. Lugging loaded laundry baskets up and down stairs is just not feasible for many older Americans. Not only does this get harder physically as we age, but the heavy loads can affect balance and increase the risk of a debilitating fall. If your laundry room isn’t on the main floor, consider building one, or perhaps converting an existing room on the main level.
- Full bath with walk-in shower on the first floor. Easy access to a full bath with all the amenities is crucial as you grow older. When time is of the essence, you don’t want to have to navigate a set of stairs to get to the bathroom! Bathroom remodeling for those desiring to age in place would ideally include a curbless shower for wheelchair accessibility, a bench to sit on, and recessed shelves placed at a comfortable level. Grab bars to help with leverage are also important, in the shower as well as near the toilet.
- Lever handles instead of knobs. In addition to arthritis, which is common in the elderly, the weakened grip strength that comes with aging makes gripping door knobs difficult and sometimes even painful. Lever-style door handles are much easier to operate, and most can even be opened with an elbow if your hands are full.
Even if you are still in your 30s or 40s, a little forward thinking can save you a lot of time and money in the future, and allow you to stay in the home you love. If you are ready to do some bathroom or kitchen remodeling, Call Callen at 414-765-2585. We will help you or your loved one achieve the level of safety and security necessary to comfortably age at home.
