Aging in Place Remodeling

It is never too early to consider how you will live in your twilight years. If you already own the home you plan to keep for the rest of your years, performing tasks related to aging in place remodeling will ensure you are prepared when the time comes.

 

Who Is Aging in Place For?

Elderly remodeling is important for several reasons. Perhaps your parents are getting older and can no longer handle caring for their own home as well as they once could. If you prefer not to go the route of assisted living, you may decide to bring Mom or Dad home with you. To ensure they are comfortable, you must have several modifications in place. Remodeling is also important to plan for your own aging as well as to be prepared should a young person become disabled.

 

What Needs to Be Done?

Aging in place remodeling requires several modifications. Begin with the exterior of the home. Build a ramp on one side of your porch or stairs to make it easier for people who can’t climb stairs or who have a wheelchair. Inside the home, ensure there is a first-floor bedroom and bathroom in case stairs are a hardship or so that the aging person feels close to the living areas. In the bathroom, handles in the shower or near the toilet are important for those who have balance issues. It may also be beneficial to install a walk-in shower and tub so that the aging person doesn’t need to step over the side of the shower, which is the cause of many falls each year.

 

Who Do I Turn To?

Because elderly remodeling has become somewhat of a trend among young homeowners who are planning for the future, an increasing number of contractors are familiar with the concept. If you find a certified aging in place designer, be sure to ask him or her for examples of previous aging in place work.

 

Regardless of whether someone claims to be certified, always check a contractor’s references and licensing. Doing so prevents you from spending money on a shoddy, unsafe job.