As you might know, home remodeling is on the rise this year, and some of the most popular projects involve age-in-place renovations. Rather than sell, many Baby Boomers are planning to stay in their current homes as they get older, which means they need to make some changes to ensure their homes stay livable through the years.
Of course, these age-in-place renovations aren’t just for homeowners preparing to enter their golden years. They’re also helpful for homeowners with aging parents moving in.
When aging in place or getting ready for an elderly parent to move in, renovations that prevent falls are especially important. Altogether, these renovations are well worth the cost, because they make the home a safer place for residents of all ages. Owners of older homes especially might want to think about putting these renovations into place.
Here are 8 renovations that help prevent falls, perfect for homeowners looking to age in place or get ready for parents to move in.
- Handrails for steps and stairs. That’s if you plan to have elderly residents going up and down stairs at all. Some age-in-place home remodels involve creating self-sufficient apartments on the ground floor.
- Grab rails for bathrooms and toilets. Integrating intuitive grab rails – that don’t detract from the room’s overall style – is essential for wet spaces where falling is more likely.
- Repairs to steps. Any cracked, uneven, or shifting steps must be repaired when renovating to prevent falls.
- Ample outdoor lighting. Age-in-place renovations aren’t just for indoors; you can prevent falls by lighting your outdoor spaces as well, especially pathways leading to entrances.
- High-visibility, slip-resistant edging for outdoor steps. This is one homeowners often overlook, but this small renovation can go a long way toward preventing falls on unforgiving concrete.
- Repair lifted edges of carpets or rugs. Bumps in the carpet or lifted edges between flooring transitions can be hazardous to an elderly resident, so repairing them is key.
- Slip-resistant surfacing for outside areas such as decks. Whether you’re building a new deck or renovating an older one, remembering to use slip-resistant surfacing is a great way to prevent falls.
- Non-slip bath mats. This improvement is incredibly easy and inexpensive – not to mention a vital part of preventing falls when aging in place.
