These days, more and more seniors are choosing to age in place rather than move to a retirement home. However, home renovations are often necessary to accommodate aging, particularly for seniors with mobility or vision issues. While it can initially seem like a major financial investment to renovate your home, this approach can actually make more financial sense than an assistant living facility, which can cost around $43,000 a year for a basic unit.
Western New York has long been known to include a lot of older people who want to happily stay put in their home they’ve lived in for decades. Whereas other regions are more transient, the Greater Buffalo area is known for people who cling to their roots and truly appreciate their home– not wanting to move.
The term “aging in place” has come into vogue, and it is defined as “the ability to live in one’s own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level.”
As you can imagine, most adults prefer to age in place. 90 percent of adults over 65 would like to stay in their current home as they age– makes sense, right?
A lot of the Buffalo area’s homes are older and haven’t been updated to the point where they’re most comfortable for elderly people. That said, Ivy Lea Construction is regularly called upon to do home improvement projects for people over 65. Usually, a concerned son or daughter will make the necessary arrangements to have Ivy Lea do home modifications that benefit their aging parent or parents.
Some of the things Ivy Lea can do to help Western New Yorkers age in place comfortably include adding railings, grab bars and non-skid flooring to homes, along with a hand-held, flexible shower head and/or walk-in bathtubs. Then there’s the installation of accessible switches at both ends of the stairs to turn lights on and off; indeed, increased lighting in a home is also something important to aging in place.
Here are some home renovations that can make your home easier for seniors to navigate:
Redo the bathroom
Seniors with mobility impairments typically need to renovate the bathroom. A good renovation would include a comfort-height toilet, a step-through tub, a shower with no curbs, and bath bars.
Install stair alternatives
Stairs also pose challenges to seniors with limited mobility. Install a chair lift indoors and ramps outdoors.
Put in slip-resistant flooring
Reduce the risk of potentially dangerous falls by replacing wood or tile floors with slip-resistant material.
Lower kitchen countertops
Kitchen countertops are 34 inches high on average, which can be difficult for someone in a wheelchair. Lower them to 30 inches to make them easier to use.
Change the doorknobs
People with arthritis have trouble gripping round doorknobs, so replace them with easier-to-use lever-style knobs.
Install motion-activated lights
Seniors who have vision impairments often find it difficult to locate light switches at night, so consider installing motion-activated lights.
Looking for a contractor in Western New York who can renovate your home to accommodate aging? Call Ivy Lea Construction at 716-875-8654 so we can help you or your loved one age in place.
Other ideas Ivy Lea can work on for aging in place homes include ramps for accessible entry and exit, stair lift/elevator installation, and/or sliding shelves in the kitchen to make a person’s access to their food easier.