Renovating To Age In Place

More than half of homeowners 60 and older say they intend to stay in their current homes indefinitely, according to a recent survey by Houzz. Fortunately for people who want to stay put, a range of home improvements can make it easier to remain in your home as you grow older.

In fact, 60 percent of those who plan to age in place already made renovations in 2014, and 52 percent planned to renovate in 2015, Houzz found. What’s more, if cost is what’s holding the handful of non-renovators back, targeting key areas like bathrooms and kitchens can improve a house’s long-term liveability even on a modest budget.

Chris Peterson, a regional sales director with Saniflo, agrees. His company makes a number of above-floor plumbing options designed to work in spaces where traditional plumbing is problematic. As the aging-in-place trend has grown, the company has seen increased interest in its products among older homeowners who are renovating.

Homeowners can maximize the value of their renovation dollars by focusing their aging-in-place improvements on bathrooms and kitchens.

Better Function in Bathrooms

Often when people develop mobility or dexterity issues, they find their existing bathrooms are not in a convenient location in the house, or aren’t configured with safety in mind. They may need to add a bathroom in a small space or reconfigure the ones they have. When renovating an existing bath or creating a new bathroom where one did not previously exist, homeowners should keep key considerations in mind.

Multiple light sources can help reduce glare and shadows – two dangerous visual effects in bathrooms, where most home falls occur. Flooring material should be slip-resistant and grab bars are essential in showers, bath tubs and near toilets. Shower heads should be on a slide bar that allows the spray to be raised or lowered depending on the needs and height of the user. Showers and faucets should be controlled by levers, rather than knobs, and all showers should have thermostatic controls to reduce the risk of burns.

Creating More Usable Kitchens

Kitchens are another high-utility and high-risk area of the home for seniors. Mobility and dexterity challenges can make everyday tasks like cooking and cleaning difficult in an ordinary kitchen.

It’s recommended that seniors focus on improvements to enhance accessibility, such as installing lifts for countertops, cabinets, cooktops and sinks. These electric lifts allow homeowners to adjust the height of key work areas depending on whether they’re sitting or standing while using the spot.

Above-floor plumbing can also be useful in kitchen renovations, where homeowners and designers desire a more open floor plan to accommodate wheelchair users. Above-floor plumbing allows you to relocate a sink or create an “island” without the expense of extensively replumbing the entire kitchen.

Source: Homeservice Club