Older adults sometimes need special features in a home to make life easier to navigate. If you are retiring and building a new home, planning for future needs should be at the top of your list. Are you adding aging-in-place features to your design plan? As you age, it’s nice to have your home ready to accommodate any mobility or physical changes you may experience.
Age-In-Place Features
You don’t have to break the bank to accommodate such aging-in-place home features. Did you know that even the smallest residential design retrofits and simple updates can have a life-saving impact? Similarly, simple design choices can profoundly impact how long you can live comfortably in your home without compromising aesthetic aims.
Enhancing and achieving accessibility in your house to fit your future aging needs can be done by utilizing the latest technologies and innovations. Some simple updates include the following.
- Replacing door knobs with door levers
- Rocker panel light switches instead of the toggle switch
- Proper lighting in every room to assist with declining eyesight
- Programmable thermostat to maintain the comfort level
- Programmable light bulbs to control the lights via smartphone, Amazon Echo, or Google Home
Whole House Features
If you have a multi-level home, here are some floor plan adjustments to consider.
- Have a full bath on each floor
- Have the master bedroom with a bath on the ground floor
- Widen the walkways and hallways to allow easy passage of walker or wheelchair
- Add a lift or elevator if there are mobility issues with stairs
Kitchen
- Have a comfortable place to sit to prepare meals
- An island with wheels is useful as it can be moved if more space is needed for a walker or wheelchair
- Avoid 90-degree angles on countertops and open shelves to lessen the likelihood of bumps and bruises
- Replace lower cabinets with drawers for easier storage access
- Position the sink close to the stove to make transferring pots and pans easier
Bathroom
- Add a roll-in or walk-in shower and have a seat in the shower.
- Have an adjustable-height showerhead that can be used standing or seated
- Use contrasting tiles to distinguish the wall and floor
- Use a shower curtain instead of a sliding door, especially with a bathtub and shower combo
- Install grab bars because towel bars are not designed to support body weight
Flooring
Cork, rubber, and linoleum are recommended flooring options to avoid tripping and slipping hazards.
If the floor is not level, use contrasting colors or textures to make the level changes easy to see
A Home For Future Needs
Now that you’ve got some ingenious tips to incorporate age-in-place home features in your next renovation project or new custom home let’s make your dream a reality. Nubuildz can recommend special features for our seniors and have many to make their lives safer and more manageable without compromising aesthetic desires.
