As more and more Baby Boomers enter their Golden years, they begin to think about what kind of life they want to live. Many decide to downsize their homes and move to a townhouse or condo in an urban setting, while others decide to stay in their own home. Some reasons to stay in their house is because they like the community and have many friends. They often do renovations to their homes to accommodate their elder years or to care for aging parents that may move in with them. This common trend is to ensure that the elder adults will be safe.
Simple Renovations Versus Major Renovations
Changes that could be made in the main home are installation of benches and a grab bar in the bathrooms so the senior has something to hold on to. Grab bars can match the faucet or drawer hardware so it isn’t so obvious that it is for safety purposes. Non-slip floors in the bathroom are a good idea as well. Creation of an additional master suite for their aging parents is an option that many homeowners are doing.
Another renovation idea is to widen the hallways to 36-inches to accommodate a wheelchair or a walker if one is needed. Ramps with handrails can be installed on the outside as well as the inside for ease of movement to the home or within the home. Elevators can also be installed to accommodate these individuals. A closet could be renovated to be a shaft for the elevator.
Adding a small apartment for the senior citizen where everything is accessible is becoming popular. Creating a separate area for the aging adult with their own private entrance allows the senior to retain their independence as well as their privacy. Rather than living in an independent facility that can be costly, the senior citizen can stay in their own space with their loved ones close by. Motion lights and alarm systems can be installed for an added feeling of security at the windows and doorways. Some alarm companies also have alerts for fire and medical included with their monitoring package.
Low-maintenance Housing Duties are Key
Some other ideas are to create a low-maintenance yard by planting shrubs and some drought-resistant plants. You could add a rock garden and a pond to enhance the beauty of the yard without a lot of grass to mow.
It is probably a good idea to have the key living space on the ground floor. This would include a full bathroom, a bedroom, and possibly a kitchen. This is especially practical in a two-story home. All the doors should have levers or handles making it easy to open and close.
Natural light is always a good idea. Adding skylights and additional windows would brighten the home. Of course, you would want to ensure that the hardware on the windows is easy to access and open.
Elderly Friendly Kitchens
The kitchen can be renovated to place cabinets about 3 inches lower so the senior can reach them easier without having to stretch. It would make sense to put the utensils and dishes that are used every day on the lower shelf. Adding a lazy Susan or some sort of shelving that can be pulled out for easy access to items in the back would be another option. The microwave can be lowered as well. A side-by-side refrigerator allows the senior to be able to easily reach for food to prepare their meals. There are also appliances that have large easy to read controls that would be helpful.
Depending on your needs, there are many options to make changes to the home that are not only beautiful, but functional. These renovations are a great way to plan for your future in your home as you age gracefully.