Age in Place: Home Renovation Essentials

For some, a retirement community is an option, while other retirees choose to “age in place.”

The oldest of the “baby boomers” started turning 65 back in 2011, and as the years have zipped by, more and more are getting ready to retire! While many are sure about how they want to spend their retirement years—think some combination of traveling, golfing, and visiting the grand-kids—a big question they’re often facing is where they’ll spend it. 

Stereotypically, the thing to do when you finally retire is make for Florida, but that’s not actually the choice most retirees are making. In fact, the AARP reports that most people over the age of 65 prefer to stay in their own homes! This growing trend is known as,  “To Age in Place”, and is very understandable. Home is where the heart is, after all, and it’s where so many memories have taken place over the years. Not only that, selling a home in a still-shaky real estate market can be a recipe for anxiety.

That being said, homeowners who are planning to stay in their homes as they age should also plan on some home renovations. The following are a few of the essential home renovation moves you should make if you’re planning to “age in place”:

Essential Home Renovations for those who’d like to Age in Place

• No-step entryways:

Tripping and falling becomes a hazard with age, so you should have entryways adjusted so that there are no steps to climb when going in and out of the house. This includes even small steps, which can be easily overlooked and cause falls.

•  No steps between rooms:

Along those same lines, ensure that there are no obstructions between rooms, even “lips” between changes in flooring material.

• Full bath and bedroom on the first floor:

This might mean transforming a living room into a bedroom, or making the half-bath downstairs a full one. In case you aren’t catching on already, the idea is to make the home as stair-less as possible, with all of the basics right on the first level! 

• A shower with a low curb, a bench, and a removable shower head:

Transforming a half-bath into a full one is the perfect opportunity to select a shower that’s more accessible. It should be one that’s easy to step into (or better yet, a walk-in shower), with a handle, a seat, and a removable head you can use while seated. 

• Wider hallways and lower cabinets:

These are both part of making the home more wheelchair friendly. Even if you don’t think that will be necessary, it’s never a bad idea to plan for everything.

• Radiant floor heating:

Okay, maybe this one isn’t so essential to age in place, but it is a nice finishing touch for any retirement-friendly home. As we age, we grow more sensitive to the cold, so a heated floor can make chilly mornings a lot more bearable. This is especially great for those retirees who opt not to go the Florida route but stick around Northeast!

Do you agree with our home remodeling essentials that allow retirees to comfortably age in place? Maybe you disagree with us?  Maybe you have questions about a remodeling project that is already under way? Leave us a Comment and get the conversation started!

For your age in place renovations, go with the best Philadelphia home remodeling contractor around: V.C.G. Construction! We’re happy to offer free consultations, so just call 1-888-936-7824.