For many people who put their heart and soul into creating their “dream home,” the prospect of leaving it for a retirement community or nursing home is less than palatable. Others who still live in the same home in which they raised their family often have no desire to leave behind priceless memories and familiar surroundings. Is it time for an age-in-place remodel?
If you’re in your late 40s or older and are planning on doing some remodeling on your home, now is the perfect time to start planning ahead. Before finalizing your renovation plans, consider implementing some basic universal design features that will allow you to gracefully age in place in the home you love. Here are just a few ideas from your favorite local remodeling company, Callen.
- Expand doorways now. As you grow older, there’s the possibility that at some point, you’ll require the aid of a wheelchair, walker, or other device to help you get around. This means the doorways in your home need to be wide enough for one to comfortably fit through. Doorways should be at least 32 inches wide at minimum, though 36 inches is the ideal width. Don’t forget to take maneuverability into account as well; allow plenty of room in the area around doorways and between furnishings for a wheelchair to maneuver.
- Add extra lighting. As eyesight fades with age, older homeowners are more likely to accidentally bump into or trip over items that they would have had no trouble navigating around in the past. For this reason, it’s important for homes to be well-lit, especially areas that tend to be shadowy, such as hallways and stairwells. Even if you think you have plenty of lighting, add a little more, whether it be task lighting in the kitchen, a couple floor lamps in the living room, or some additional light fixtures in key areas.
- Install bathroom grab bars. Grab bars are essential for providing the aging and elderly with additional support and leverage, and installation requires minimal bathroom remodeling work. Fortunately, grab bars have evolved quite a bit in recent years, and are now available in attractive styles and finishes that blend well with a room and are much less conspicuous. There are many options for modern, decorative grab bars, some of which double as a towel bar or even include a handy shelf. Grab bars are most commonly used near the toilet and in the shower or bath.
Get Advice from Our Pros
The team at Callen has deep experience working with homeowners who hope to live out their golden years in their own home. To find out how we can make this dream a reality for you, give us a call today at 414-765-2585.