Aging in place (AIP) is a healthy mentality for many older adults. It gives them the chance to live out their remaining years in their own home, often surrounded by family memories and belongings, without making the physically and emotionally strenuous transition to a care facility. With modern at-home care providers, many older adults can successfully continue to live at home. However, the home may have been bought years, even decades ago, and may not be convenient or physically safe for them to live in.
Before the home becomes dangerous for you or your loved one, strategic remodeling can help refine the home for your current goals while preparing for your future needs. This article covers tips and strategies for successfully planning an aging-in-place remodel to help prepare for the future with less stress for the elderly adult and their family.
Why Are People Aging in Place?
As many older adults want to remain in their homes, family members may question whether this is the best strategy for their loved one. While aging in place may pose physical and mental risks, it also presents many benefits that can keep older adults and their families’ lives running more smoothly. These benefits include:
- Maintaining a sense of independence
- Staying connected to their community
- Saving money on housing costs
- Having a higher standard of mental health*
*According to numerous scientific studies, aging in place provides many benefits, including relief from anxiety/feelings of loneliness and increased mental acuity, likely stemming from continuing to live in familiar surroundings.
The Challenges of Aging in Place
Despite these benefits, aging in place may present challenges. As elderly adults continue to age, their physical and mental condition often declines, leading to issues with continuing to live in a home they bought years or decades ago. Homes with stairs, large homes, and even homes with certain types of flooring can become inhospitable or dangerous as the homeowner ages.
How To Remodel Homes for Aging in Place
One of the best ways for older homeowners and their families to prepare for aging in place is to pre-emptively remodel the home. For some older adults, this can be a significant change to their routine. The goal is to create sensible adjustments that balance aesthetics and functionality as the family prepares for the future.
Rethink the Layout
One of the most significant changes homeowners can make to prepare for aging in place is to reconsider how their home’s layout will impact their future mobility. Homes with stairs or sprawling layouts can be difficult to adapt and may require more consideration.
However, in many homes, simple changes can go a long way toward making the layout more livable in later years. To use the kitchen as an example, counters and appliances can be lowered to prevent reaching. Built-in pull-down or pull-out shelving can provide easier access to amenities without requiring bending over.
For bathrooms, shower curbs and step-in tubs may no longer be viable. Walk-in tubs can be installed, as can built-in shower seating to enhance safety. The goal of these bathroom remodels is to provide luxury amenities with future mobility in mind.
Pro Tip: When redesigning a senior’s home, aim for more open floor plans where possible to prepare for the possibility of wheelchair access.
Reconsider the Flooring
Flooring decisions were likely made when the home was built or when the homeowners were much younger. A 2023 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that falls account for around 3,400 deaths among U.S. retirement-age adults every month, making reducing tripping hazards a primary goal of an aging-in-place remodel.
Carpets can bunch up over time or form lips that can act as tripping hazards. Additionally, they may be difficult to clean. Tile provides a clean alternative, but it may not be in every homeowner’s budget. Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) provides a good compromise between aesthetics, safety, and usability. It can be visually customized to match the look of stone, tile, hardwood, and more, while remaining easy to clean and repair, even as the homeowner ages.
Improve the Lighting
As our loved ones age, lighting can transform from an afterthought into a core safety feature of the home. Lighting should be bright, warm, and functional, providing strategic task lighting in high-usage areas such as kitchens and bathrooms. This can be achieved in remodels by integrating lighting into custom cabinetry, counters, range hoods, and more. Flat-panel light switches, combined with remote-controlled options, can provide even greater accessibility and help predict future changes in their physical capabilities.
Local Designers Can Help You Plan for the Future
At Southern Maryland Kitchen & Bath, our team of designers and in-house tradesmen and contractors works with homeowners and families to create aging-in-place remodels that align with current goals and future needs. Our goal is to be a one-stop shop for your remodeling project by coordinating with your and your loved one’s needs, while communicating budget and service expectations at every step of the way.
Contact our team and schedule a design consultation today to learn more about how we can help you or your elderly loved one achieve peace of mind in the family home with strategic aging-in-place remodels that prepare for the future.