Accessibility Upgrades Help Elderly Aging in Place
3 pros!
By making some additions and doing some remodeling, your home can remain accessible as you grow older.
Each year, more and more baby boomers — those born between 1946 and 1964 — reach retirement age. Widely recognized as a generation that values individual choices and freedoms, it’s not surprising that as its members age, they are seeking out ways to live at home as long as possible.
There are several home upgrades that help, whether or not a homeowner uses a wheelchair or walker. Here are our top picks:
Aging in place in the kitchen
When it comes to kitchen floors, regular waxing and polishing can create a falling hazard, so keep this chore to a minimum.
For appliances, side-by-side refrigerators and ovens place less strain on the back and provide for easier meal preparation.
Touchless faucets are a popular option offered by many manufacturers, and can help those with arthritis.
Senior-friendly doorways and closets
Should the need for a wheelchair or walker arise, it’s recommended that doorways be widened to at least 32 inches.
Pocket doors and levered door knobs can be great solutions because they are more easily opened and closed.
A better bedroom
To make the bedroom more accessible for those with limited mobility, beds should be adjusted to a height that makes it easy to get in and out. Consider lamps that turn on and off when touched, and having a landline or cellphone close to the bed. Also, a chair with firm arms can serve as an aid for dressing.
Bathroom accessibility
Grab bars should be installed in bathtubs and showers to allow for easy entry. Going one step further, some homeowners find it beneficial to swap out a bathtub for a shower. Bathtub transfer benches can make showering easier. Benches typically have legs with rubber tips that guard against slipping. Some benches are designed to slide or swivel.
A shower head with a removable hose feature can make showering less tedious. Toilets should be adjusted to a height that minimizes the chance of falling. Pedestal sinks offer more accessibility. They can be lowered if the standard height restricts access.
Other helpful aging in place tips
Here are some additional tips to make your home more accessible, to help you live independently longer:
• Remove any loose carpeting or rugs; they can get caught in wheelchair wheels or cause a tripping hazard.
• A paved driveway is easier to navigate.
• A shelf on your porch can offer a spot for delivery drivers to leave packages. This prevents the hassle of trying to pick a package up off the ground. This shelf also can hold items when you unlock the door to enter your home.
• Install railings on both sides of stairs.
• Make sure hallways are lit with automatic night lights, which will assist in navigating your home in the dark.
• Motorized blinds provide an easy way to control the amount of sunlight that enters your home.
Are you considering remodeling your home to improve accessibility? Tell us about it in the comments section below.
Editor's note: This is an updated version of an article originally posted on Nov. 18, 2014.
As of Nov. 18, 2014, this service provider was highly rated on Angie's List. Ratings are subject to change based on consumer feedback, so check Angie's List for the most up-to-date reviews. The views expressed by this author do not necessarily reflect those of Angie's List.
