Aging in Place: A Home Designed to Accommodate Your Needs Now and in the Future
You future plans may include an older parent or in-law living with you, or perhaps you’d like your new home to be built to accommodate you and your spouse as you enter your golden years. Building or remodeling to include these design considerations is called Aging in Place, designing a home specifically for either a disabled or elderly person. If you’re investing in a newly built home, you may choose to follow these guidelines on accommodations.
Feature 1: Widen Doorways & Hallways for Ease of Movement
The easiest adjustments to make are doorways that are just a bit wider to accommodate a wheelchair or walker. Make them a minimum of 32” wide, but 36” is best. Don’t forget to widen shower openings and other potentially narrow passages, such as pantries.
Feature 2: Trade Steps for Ramps and More
Consider building a one story house or a home where the Master Bedroom or Mother-in-Law Suite is on the first floor. Eliminate any steps or stairs inside if possible, and obviously, you will want to plan for a ramp at the home’s entrance. In the bathroom, include a zero-entry shower, which has no curb, eliminating a tripping hazard. Not only is this shower design practical, but it is also in demand by most homeowners, regardless of their age.
Feature 3: Include Built-In Assistance
A shower grab bar may not be on your aesthetic wish-list, but it will be essential. The good news is that manufacturers are making them in a variety of finishes and styles now, so you can avoid the hospital look. Alternatively, if you don’t need a grab bar now, have your builder add wood blocking in the walls for an easy installation down the road.
Feature 4: Function and Beauty for Ease of Living
There are so many other design choices you can make to ease to an aging person’s daily life. Motorized shades (cool anyway) and lighting in cooler color temperatures (because the vision of an elderly person tends to yellow) can make a huge difference. It’s almost like baby-proofing your home.
If you analyze everything in the space while keeping an older person in mind, you’ll discover many small changes you can make. When my own parents got to be a certain age, I found that the main problems were showers and cramped furniture arrangements. Fixing just those two things made a huge difference in their lives.
Planning Ahead
Aging in place in a huge trend in home design that you’ll be glad you planned for. To create a home that’s going to be a joy for you and your family for generations, we can design for both beauty and functionality. Even if you aren’t building your Forever Home right now, these design considerations are great for resale.
If you're ready to create a functional and fashionable home that lets you age in place, please reach out to us. We can't wait to hear about your home.
Until next time,
