Many of us feel safe at home – it’s our happy place, a little haven where we can let loose and be ourselves. Naturally, we’d like to stay living in our homes independently for as long as possible. It may be time for you and your local contractor to consider some house modifications that will make your home safer and more accessible. Below is information about just a few possible home adaptations to allow you to age in place peacefully.
Accessibility
Even if no one in the home currently requires a wheelchair or other assistive devices, accessibility with such devices should be considered when planning your home renovation. Consider these home improvement
projects:
1. Widen doorways that are narrower than 32 inches.
Install a wheelchair ramp – this will offer help for seniors (with or without mobility problems) by eliminating stairs to climb.
2. For multi story homes, add a chairlift or elevator.
Another way to make seniors safe at home with multiple stories is to consider putting all essential rooms (kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, etc) on the ground floor.
3. Adjust countertop heights in the kitchen and bathrooms.
Although this is one of the bigger house modifications on the list, lowering the countertops will greatly improve accessibility for someone in a wheelchair.
Many of these home adaptations will require a local contractor, but the accessibility is likely to increase the value of your home, and be well worth it if your mobility should be compromised.
General Safety and Independence
These are several smaller home improvement projects that you can complete yourself – these house modifications are simple, but really offer a lot of help for seniors who want to be independent at home.
– Install lever-style door knobs – especially if you suffer from arthritis.
– Replace drawer pulls with D-style pulls instead of knobs.
– Install grab bars in all areas where seniors may need extra support for balance – think of around the toilet and tub.
– Switch out the shower head for one that’s hand-held.
– Make it brighter – consider adding additional lighting to avoid dark corners, walkways, and doorways.
You want to get the most out of your home renovation, so utilize options that are low maintenance and long-lasting, such as LED light bulbs that can last up to 11 years with 12 hours of daily use.
Flooring
Consistency throughout the floor is key when it comes to seniors being safe at home – eliminating shifts in floor textures (hardwood to carpet for example) and unevenness can prevent devastating slips, trips, and falls. Opting for flooring that is easy to clean is another way to ensure safety, as well as choosing materials that are softer in nature, in case a fall does occur. Vinyl and rubber flooring both meet all of these criteria, and they’re available at an affordable cost.
Hopefully, this list gave you some insight into what to consider when creating a senior-friendly home. When you need fast quotes for your home renovation projects, Local Contractor can help!
