Older Adults May Benefit from 4 Home Modifications for Aging-in-place

Your needs can change in various ways as you get older. Not only are your nutritional needs different, but so are the ways you move around your house. Nobody wants to give up their familiar home, and they shouldn’t have to. Aging-in-place is the phrase used to describe “choosing to remain at home instead of moving to a senior living facility”. There are some must-have home modifications you should undertake if you’d rather age-in-place than move into an assisted living facility. These can help make living independently easier.

Here are four of the best home modifications you can make.

The more expensive options are renovating the bathroom with a walk-in tub or replacing the tub altogether with a walk-in shower. But if you would rather keep your bathroom intact, you can opt to add a safety bar or safety strips to the shower or tub. These options are less expensive and can prevent slips and falls.

Widening doorways

Accessibility matters. If you use a wheelchair or cane to aid with mobility, it may be worth expanding your home’s doorways to go into and out of rooms more efficiently.

Consider your flooring options

Along with widening doorways, using a cane or a wheelchair may make you want to reconsider the flooring throughout the house. Longer or shag carpeting could be replaced with one that has a shorter nap. Hardwood or laminate floors could be more accessible for wheelchair users, but they can also be a slipping hazard. Rugs can be put down, too, but be sure they’re secured to the floor.

Adjust kitchen accessibility

Counter height should be considered in the kitchen. Have a contractor come to your home and make adjustments to the height of the sink and counters. You may also opt to use microwave stands rather than placing the appliance on the back of the counter or above the stove. Lower cabinets can be made more accessible with the installation of pull-out shelves.

Utilize smart technology

Smart speakers such as Amazon Dot and Google Home can allow you to conveniently control things such as the lighting in your home with your voice. They’re also useful for reminders or keeping up with meetings, appointments and grocery deliveries. Other options, such as video doorbells like Ring, also allow you to have more peace of mind since you can see who is at your home anywhere inside with a glimpse of the camera from your smartphone.