Aging in Place

“Aging in Place” is a construction design idea that helps you or your loved ones stay in your homes for as long as possible. Like any other goal in life, “Aging in Place” requires forethought, planning and discussion. The time has passed when people had only a few choices about where to live during their retirement years. There are now many options available. One of the most popular options today is having modifications made to their current homes to meet with the challenges of fading eyesight, restrictions of movement and balance issues.
What you can do…
• Initiate conversations with loved ones and even aging parents early on, by asking them about their expectations of aging and their view of the future.
• You can research legal and financial planning that will help achieve the goals of everyone involved, instead of waiting for a crisis to occur that can take choices away.
• Research and understand the options that are available to you and consult a construction professional.
Accessibility—As we grow older easy access to everything from cabinets and storage space to second-story bedrooms and bathrooms can become an issue. If you presently need stairs or stools to get to an area, then you are a good candidate for an “Aging in Place” upgrade. It's smart to evaluate hallways, doorways, and bathrooms to see if they can accommodate wheelchairs and walkers. Don't discount areas you presently take for granted. Introducing handrails throughout your home (especially in hallways, bathrooms, tubs and shower) and increasing lighting throughout your home can go a long way in making things safe and accessible for an adult with restrictions for years to come.

Adaptability—How easily can your home be adapted to accommodate special needs and the challenges of aging? Whether you're thinking about a kitchen remodeling project or re-doing the bathroom, it's never too early to design additions and remodels with adaptability in mind. For the most part, that means it's important to design for extra space, so that you can add “Aging in Place” friendly features like handrails and moveable cabinets if they should become necessary down the road.

“Visit-ability”—One of the most debilitating factors that Aging in Place design tries to combat is isolation. As seniors and their friends grow older, it's easy to become "trapped" in the home. That said, remodeling with visit-ability in mind is a big part of living a satisfying life as you get older. Make sure your home is accessible to family and friends (especially those with restrictions) and think about making extra space available should you ever need to hire live-in help. Replacing steps with ramps, widening doorways and hallways to accommodate limited mobility and adding an extra bedroom or two are all options that you might want to consider.


What ideas should I consider if my parents or a loved one want to age in place?
• A master bedroom and bath on the first floor.
• A low or no-threshold entrance to the home with an overhang.
• Lever-style door handles.
• No change in levels on the main floor. (keeping away from hard surfaces in case of falls)
• Bright lighting in all areas, especially places like stairways.
• A low-maintenance exterior.
• Non-slip flooring at the main entryway.
• An open floor plan, especially in the kitchen/dining area.
• Handrails at all steps.
• Contrasting colors for depth perception – use a different color counter (or edging around the counter) than the floor, staining the edge of the stairs a darker color than the rest of the steps.
• Single handled faucets- both kitchen and bathrooms.
• No threshold showers with grab bars installed in specific areas for assistance. (shower curtains possibly instead of glass doors)
• Tubs with easy access doors built-in.
• Hand-held shower sprays with an adjustable bar.
• High-rise toilets for ease of use in knee joints.
• Emergency pull chords in strategic locations throughout home, monitored.

Even just using a few of these ideas can make “Aging in Place” a more comfortable and safer place for everyone.