According to the AARP®, as much as 90% of older adults in the United States want to age in place – that is, spend their later years in their home – as opposed to checking into assisted living facilities. To facilitate aging in place, you need to prepare your home for it.
Pace Your Projects
Preparing your home for aging in place may involve a series of renovation projects. Some homeowners prefer to undertake several projects at once or in close succession while others prefer to do it one at a time across several years. Each approach has its pros and cons, and you should weigh them before committing to one or several projects at once.
Prioritize Projects That Improve Safety
While aging-in-place renovations are intended to make the house safer and improve accessibility for the elderly, many such projects can benefit everyone in your household regardless of age. The following are renovations that can be done without waiting for your later years:
- Add grab bars. People regard grab bars as something that the elderly would use for using the bathroom unassisted, but they’re so much more than that; they also help prevent accidents. If your bathroom is up for a remodel, adding grab bars won’t be out of place even if no one in your household would qualify as an elderly person.
- Install anti-slip flooring. No matter what part of the house you are prioritizing, make it a point to include anti-slip flooring in your checklist.
- Improve indoor lighting. If you or anyone else in your household suffers from poor eyesight, you’ll want to make sure that areas such as the staircase are well-lit.
Work With an Experienced Remodeler
Not all remodelers understand what is required to ensure the success of aging-in-place projects. Sometimes, the homeowner may only have the goal, but not a fully envisioned plan, and this is where you can benefit from what an experienced remodeler can bring to the table.
If you are looking into preparing your home for your later years, our design experts at Design Build Remodeling Group of Maryland can help you. Give us a call at (443) 300-2268, or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment. We serve customers in Baltimore, MD, and the surrounding communities.
