Tips for Home Modifications for Seniors
Is your home keeping up with the changes in your life as you age? Do you have older family members coming to live with you? Keep your home safe and comfortable for the years ahead with these tips for home modifications for seniors.
What Does “Aging In Place” Mean?
Aging-in-place refers to remaining in your home and living as independently as you can, as long as you can.
While more people are choosing to stay in their homes longer, that decision poses some problems. If you have difficulty walking up and down stairs or getting in and out of the shower or tub, or if you have to navigate with a walker or wheelchair, you may be living in a home that isn’t suited for your life changes.
By making extensive changes to your current home, you can continue to safely and comfortably age in place there.
An Aging in Place Checklist for Active Adult Homes
Shift to single-level living.
If you already live in a single-level home, you don’t have stairs to climb. But if you’re planning for aging in place in a multi-level home, some renovations might help you forgo stairs. Do you have a room on the main level that can be converted to a bedroom, including space for a closet? Is there a full bath in close proximity to this bedroom? Situating a first-floor owner’s suite near the kitchen is convenient if you have the space because the kitchen and bedroom are likely to be the spaces you use the most.
Widen the doorways.
On average, a standard interior door is 32 to 36 inches wide. This width can be difficult for someone who relies on a wheelchair to move around. Rather than trying to steer and squeeze a wheelchair through a narrow entry—and leave scratches and nicks—have your doorways widened and replace the doors.
Create a more accessible entryway.
Do you have steps leading to your front door? You can replace the steps with a wheelchair ramp or simply create a more subtle incline from the driveway to the porch or entry.
Install a curbless shower with a bench.
It’s time to get rid of the shower-bathtub combination! Getting in and out presents a high risk of slipping and falling. Install a curbless, walk-in shower, one without any threshold to trip over. Include a built-in bench and grab bar in your new shower. Add a handheld showerhead—installed at a height that you can easily reach—with an anti-scald device and levers instead of knobs, which can be difficult for arthritic hands.
Swap light switches for toggle or touch switches.
Flipping a switch might seem like a small task right now, but there could be a time when turning the lights off and on requires more effort. Opt for the light switches that require only a tap.
Install motion sensor lighting indoors.
Plan ahead to safely enter any room when it’s dark. A motion-activated light automatically switches on when you pass the sensor and turns off according to the time you set. It’s a hands-free way of lighting the way through your home.
Replace flooring with a slipless option.
Tile, hardwood, and vinyl flooring can be slippery. The best flooring choices for seniors include rubber, cork, and short-pile carpet. Padded vinyl is another option. Thicker vinyl stands up to the wear and tear of wheelchairs rolling over it.
Add pull-out cabinets and shelves.
Many modern kitchens are equipped with more drawers and pull-out shelves than standard cabinets. For aging in place, this design trend makes sense. It’s easier to pull out a drawer or shelf to access items in your cabinet than to reach into the depths of them.
Remove some lower bathroom cabinets.
There may come a time when you need to sit when using your bathroom sink, mirror, or countertop. Remove a lower cabinet to provide knee room to sit as close as you need comfortably. If you can’t spare the storage space right now, consider replacing the lower cabinet with a removable one.
Switch from door knobs to levers.
Pushing a lever to open a door is much easier than twisting a door knob—and there are many stylish options for this hardware.
Add task lighting.
Proper lighting increases safety and reduces eye strain. Add recessed and under-cabinet lighting in areas where you might benefit from better illumination, like the kitchen, laundry room, and bathroom. Install wall sconces next to your bed with a remote control so you don’t need to reach the switch to turn it on and off.
How To Pay For Aging-In-Place Modifications
Some of the projects on the aging-in-place checklist are simple, while others are more complex. What’s the cost of these home modifications for seniors? And how can you pay for them? Here are some suggestions.
Home equity loan
If you’ve built up equity in your home, leverage it to finance the home renovations for seniors. A home equity loan lets you benefit from your investment. Use this home equity loan calculator to determine how much you can borrow and how long the loan will last.
Home equity line of credit
A home equity line of credit—also known as HELOC—is a revolving line of credit, like a credit card. You borrow against the equity you’ve accrued in your home, using it as collateral. You must make monthly interest payments on the amount you borrow during the initial “draw period” (usually up to 10 years) but must begin repaying the loan after that.
Reverse mortgage
With a reverse mortgage, you use the equity in your home to finance living expenses, which includes aging-in-place home modifications. The program is available only to people who are 62 or older. You do not have to repay the loan until you move out of the home, sell it, or pass away (at which point, your estate repays the loan).
Home improvement loan
Personal loans are useful for financing anything you want—from a vacation or boat to home modifications for seniors. You can secure a personal loan specifically for home improvement but expect to pay a higher interest rate than your home equity financing options.
State housing agency loan
State housing finance agencies (HFA) may offer funds to assist with your home modifications. There are income limits and other requirements but it’s worth checking the availability of funds and the qualifications.
Is It Better To Renovate or Buy?
Now that you’ve seen the cost and effort of implementing these home renovations for seniors, maybe you are asking yourself, “Does it make more sense to just buy a new home?”
A new-construction DeLuca home provides you with the latest trends in design and construction, including energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and a low-maintenance exterior. You also enjoy the peace of mind that comes with a fully guaranteed new home—with warranties that cover everything from the foundation to the roof, and everything in between.
And…new homes are now less expensive than buying a resale home in many places!
Instead of trying to do home renovations for seniors, buy one of the new 55+ homes for sale in active adult communities that cater to your aging in place needs and interests!
Work with the Best Home Builders in Bucks County!
There are so many reasons to buy a home in a 55+ community. The next choice is where to move.
DeLuca Homes specializes in building homes and active adult communities in southeast Pennsylvania. With more than 60 years of experience, we’ve earned a reputation as one of the best Bucks County home builders. Our process makes it easy to go from dreaming about your new home to moving in.
Contact DeLuca Homes Today!
The team at DeLuca Homes is ready to show you the benefits of living in one of our active adult communities in Bucks County, PA. Our family-owned business has served generations of homebuyers in Pennsylvania. How can we serve you? Contact DeLuca Homes to learn more about our communities, floorplans, and available homes.