Seniors and Aging In Place Home Improvement

Living under one’s own rules is a key reason for staying home, with 42 percent of seniors choosing it as one of their top three considerations. If you want to continue living under your own rules, one of the best ways to age in place successfully is to plan ahead.

If you know that you want to remain in your home as long as you can, consider aspects of your current home that you would want/need to change to facilitate safety, comfort and accessibility as you age.

Entryways and thresholds • Are there steps? • How many?

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Garage doors

Are they automatic or manual?

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Bathrooms • What kind of flooring is present, tile, hardwood or carpet? • How about grab bars for stability?• What is the toilet height?

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Bedrooms • Is there enough space to maneuver?• Are light switches easily accessible? • Is the bed a safe height? • Are most, if not all, items in the closet within reach?

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Kitchens • How is the height of the counters? • Are items in cabinets easy to reach without a stool? • How far do you have to bend over to access the dishwasher and/or lower cabinets?

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Lighting• Are key places in the home well-lit, like outside, the bedroom, bathroom and walkways? • How easily can lights be switched on and off?

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Yard • How much maintenance does the yard require?• How high or low are flower beds? • If there a deck and are there steps on it?

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According to AARP, 82% of people would like to remain in the comfort and familiarity of their own homes for as long as they are able.

So it’s no wonder that aging in place home improvement has become extremely popular.

Of seniors who make modifications to their homes, 70 percent did so for safety purposes, making planning extremely important if you or a loved one will go this route.

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