Articles
Prepare for the Future Today with
Aging-in-Place Features for Your Home
From the day we are born we are on the path to aging. Until we find that elusive fountain of youth, the clock continues to click forward, and today there are 77 million baby boomers preparing for retirement.
While few want to admit that they are aging, an overwhelming number of homeowners have made the decision that when the inevitable occurs, they want to grow old gracefully—and independently—in their own homes. Because the vast majority of homes we live in are not well designed for aging, a new movement in residential construction has sprung up to meet this new consumer demand. America needs trained remodelers, designers and builders to upgrade our homes so we can comfortably “age in place.”
What is “aging-in-place” exactly? Aging-in-place means living in your home safely, independently and comfortably, regardless of age or agility level. It addresses the need to design new homes, and remodel existing residences, to allow people to remain in their current home as they grow older.
The easiest way to prepare for aging-in-place is to include universal design features when you are building a home or embarking on a current remodeling project. The following features can be added during construction or remodeling jobs for little or no extra cost to you:
Getting safely and securely in and out of the house
• Better outdoor lighting, such as path lighting to the front or rear door
• Attractive ramps or a “zero step entrance” for the home
• Package shelf by the front door
• Handrails at steps and porches
• One-story ranch designs for new homes
Changes in the kitchen for easier meal preparation and eating
• Lever-handle faucets with a pull-out sprayer
• Raised dishwasher to avoid back strain (a good idea for front-
loading washers and dryers, too)
• Rolling island that can be placed back under the counter
• Revolving corner shelves and pull-out shelves
• Lower, side-opening oven
• Pull-out cutting board
• Adjustable height sink
• Side-by-side refrigerator with slide-out shelves and a water/ice dispenser
• Cooking range with controls on the front
• Larger, more accessible cabinet and drawer pulls
Changes in the bathrooms (the number one place for accidents in your home)
• Two to three attractive looking grab bars in the shower
• Lever handles on the faucets
• Slide-bar-type hand-held shower, for sitting or standing
• Inset shampoo nooks
• Curbless showers, with nothing to step over, that can be rolled into
if using a wheelchair becomes necessary
• Moving tub and shower controls closer to the entry point
• Anti-scald, temperature and pressure balanced tub shower valves
for safer bathing
• Widening entry doors to at least 32 inches
• Higher toilets
Moving around in the house:
• Improved lighting with recessed fixtures in common areas and hallways
• Lever handles on doors and windows
• Lower light switches and thermostats; raised outlets
• Stack closets on each floor, which can then be converted to an
elevator shaft if necessary
• Block in walls to accommodate a future chair lift
• Install doors that accommodate wheelchairs and walkers