“We don’t want to move out of the home that we raised our children in, ate countless holiday meals, opened birthday presents, and waved in the doorway of as our children left for school.” This is the sentiment of many aging baby boomers.
If you were born between 1946 and 1964, you’re considered to be a “baby boomer”. For many years I haven’t really given much thought to my baby boomer status, but as the years fly by, I can’t help but think about how my husband and I may end up living in our golden years.
“Aging-in-Place” is an idea whose time has come. More and more seniors are opting to retrofit their existing homes, or design new ones, with features that will give them the option of staying in their own home.
If you’re a boomer, physically impaired, have aging parents who will be sharing your home, or just an early planner, here are some tips to help you get ready to make your home easier to navigate.
One Story Floor Plan
At some point it usually becomes much more difficult to climb stairs as we age. And if a walker or wheelchair becomes necessary, living on one level is a must. If you want to stay in your current home, and it’s two stories, you can choose to remodel so that the main floor has it’s own bedroom and bathroom.
Bathroom Options
Low-threshold showers, step-in tubs, grab bars, and comfort height toilets are a few of the things you’ll need to add to help aging and disabled folks navigate in bathrooms. The bathroom will also need to be larger to accommodate a five foot turning radius.
Kitchen Options
A spacious kitchen with lots of room to maneuver is the way to go when you want to age-in-place. As in a bathroom, you’ll need at least a 5-foot turning radius, including wider hallways and doorways.
Small changes, such as replacing knob-handled faucets with a lever or hands-free version, using easy-to-grip cabinet handles instead of knobs, using interior cabinet accessories—like rollout trays, wall cabinet pull-downs, and swing-out units (Lazy Susans) for corners, will help make your kitchen more user friendly.
Entry and Exterior Decks/Patios
Entries will need to be wider, and decks and patios should be built at or close to the floor level of your home. You may also want to consider enlarging your garage to allow for easier access in and out of your vehicle.
No one wants to think about the reality of aging, or being disabled. When remodeling or building new homes, very few of our customers have considered adding these options. But if you’re seriously considering remodeling in the near future, you may want to be forward thinking and call us to talk about how we can help you plan ahead now.
Call us today at 209-772-9200 or 800-498-1833 or feel free to stop by our website at www.uniquitybuilders.com, or simply scan the QR code below.
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