Is Your Home Ready For Your Golden Years?

Some things are inevitable like; we all get older. Unfortunately, most homes are not designed with seniors in mind, although we aspire to end up as one someday. As we grow older, safety and mobility become more of an issue, and we begin to see our home from a different perspective. The simple truth is with a large, and growing, aging population in the US, aging in place safely has become a serious national problem that prompts questions about our future:

• How much longer can you be able to comfortably climb the stairs?
• Are your kitchen cupboards and storage areas easily accessible?
• Could your home accommodate a wheelchair if that became necessary?
• Is your bathroom a potentially hazardous area where you might fall?

Statistically, about 80% of the many falls that occur in the home happen in the bathroom. All of these worries become critical considerations as we grow older. They also become important when we assume the care of a senior family member. Do you foresee yourself taking in an elderly parent or relative someday, and if you do, can your home be able to accommodate their needs? Chances are you will as 36 million unpaid caregivers are taking care of an elderly relative.

Despite these challenges, most people would like nothing more than to be able to care for their older loved ones and to age in place themselves without giving up the comfort, security, and privacy of our own homes. Aging in place is the preferred option as an AARP survey showed 90% of seniors wanted to live in their homes as long as possible. Indeed, even if a senior care residence is wonderful (which many of them sadly are not), could it be better than being able to enjoy your own home as you age or be in the company of your loved ones? Well, we doubt that. So, the real question is, how do we make that most desirable of options a reality for ourselves when that time comes?

The answer is a home renovation for aging in place. Aging-in-place renovation is not a new idea, but it has become more popular, perhaps understandably so, as recent history has demonstrated just how dangerously inadequate nursing home care and conditions can often be. By readying your home to accommodate your future physical needs, you’ll be securing the happy retirement you envision and assuring your ability to enjoy your twilight years exactly where you want to be—at home and with your family.

• Let’s take a look at some of the many modifications that can be accomplished as part of aging-in-place renovation:
• Installing stairlifts to make all floors accessible.
• Moving laundry appliances out of the basement to a more senior-friendly location.
• Widening doorways, halls, rooms, and adding ramps to make the home wheelchair-accessible.
• Adding non-slip elements to flooring and transition areas where surface levels change.
• Adding carpeting to hard floors (which is one of the best changes you could make as carpet softens the impact and lessens the potential injury resulting from falls).
• Adding grab bars and handrails in strategic areas to aid mobility.
• Reconfiguring kitchen cabinetry and appliances to make everything reachable.
• Installing motion-sensor lighting and auto-shutoff devices to improve visibility and reduce fire hazards.
• Updating a bathroom with a walk-in shower, a higher toilet with sidearms, and a layout to accommodate walkers and wheelchairs.

Even if safety and mobility issues are not a problem for you yet, there is no better time than now to prepare for aging in place. By making these renovations now, you’ll have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that you are ready for the future. Not only that, but you’ll also be doing your body a favor by eliminating some of the stress that your joints and limbs endure every day. Knee and back problems can be aggravated and worsened with trips up and down your stairs. How much physical damage could you prevent by avoiding that daily strain? According to medical experts—a whole lot.

Whether you have an immediate need for these services due to a recent change in circumstances or would simply (and wisely) like to prepare proactively, this national problem calls for a local solution. And as the greater Houston area’s most trusted, reliable, and affordable aging-in-place renovation experts, Samuels Construction is ready to assist you. Contact us a call today, and let’s start planning for the future you deserve.