Aging in Place Remodeling

Aging in place remodeling is a growing consideration in home design and renovation, enabling people to live in their homes independently as they age. This approach allows for independent living in a safe and familiar environment, avoiding the need to relocate to assisted living facilities. Incorporating features like elevators, wide hallways, accessible bathrooms and other modifications can make this transition smoother.

What Aging in Place Means

The term “aging in place” refers to the decision to live independently in one’s home throughout the aging process, rather than transitioning to a senior living facility. This choice allows older adults to maintain autonomy, offering comfort and control in a familiar environment. Homes designed with aging in place in mind provide wider hallways, ample space in kitchens, and accessible bathrooms to ensure ease of movement while carrying out daily tasks.

Key Benefits of Aging in Place

While there are many benefits to aging in place, four stand out when making decisions about building a home with aging in place as a priority in the design.

1. Maintaining Independence: Aging in place empowers older adults to manage their routines and lifestyle choices. Reducing physical obstacles, such as stairs or narrow doorways, makes navigating the home easier with mobility aids.
2. Emotional Comfort and Familiarity: Staying in a cherished space brings emotional security. The familiarity of one’s home, from the layout to small details like light switches, enhances quality of life by reducing stress and confusion.
3. Health and Safety: Aging in place offers a healthier and safer environment, away from potential health risks associated with communal living. Living at home supports physical well-being and can reduce the risk of illness.
4. Cost-Effectiveness: Staying at home can be significantly more cost-effective than moving into a senior facility, making aging in place a financially sound choice.

Preparing Your Home for Aging in Place

Designing or remodeling a home with future needs in mind is key to a successful aging-in-place plan. Common adjustments to account for limited mobility include:

1. Enhanced Accessibility: Features such as wide doorways, wide hallways, countertop heights, and curbless showers are vital. These modifications allow safe and easy movement around the home in people’s daily lives.
2. Single-Level Living: For homes with multiple floors, creating main floor or ground floor living spaces (with a primary bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom) minimizes the need for stairs.
3. Additional Support and Safety Features: Installing grab bars in bathrooms, shower chairs, adding stair railings, and enhancing lighting can all contribute to a safer and comfortable environment.

Elevators as a Key Feature for Aging in Place

While elevators were once considered a luxury, advances in technology have made them more affordable and accessible. Adding an elevator in a multi-story home or as part of a renovation project can help people with mobility issues navigate between floors easily.

In multi-level homes, an elevator is often essential for those using mobility aids such as walkers or wheelchairs. It eliminates the need for staircases, which can become a safety hazard. In addition to helping with daily routines, an elevator can assist with accessing storage on different floors or transporting heavy items like holiday decorations, reducing the physical strain of using stairs.

When to Consider Professional Help

While many aging-in-place modifications are straightforward, professional expertise may be needed for complex changes like adding an elevator, reconfiguring bathrooms, or remodeling kitchens. Some adjustments, such as installing a walk-in tub or expanding hallways, benefit from specialized knowledge to ensure safety and longevity. Professionals can also provide insights into evolving needs, like motion-sensor lights, counter heights, or modified cabinet handles for those with arthritis.

Thoughtful planning and adjustments can make a home comfortable and accessible for a lifetime, supporting independence and well-being as people age. Whether building a new home or remodeling an existing one, incorporating aging-in-place features—like elevators, accessible spaces, and safety modifications—enables older adults to stay comfortably and safely in the home they love.

Contact Us to Get Started

Planning for aging in place can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. Whether you’re remodeling or building new, we can help you create a home that’s safe, comfortable, and adaptable for the future.