When we think about our future, we want to imagine ourselves as independent and healthy as we grow older. An estimated 90 percent of people age 60 and older hope to age in place. However, as we age, mobility can become a serious issue. Your home as it is now may not be accessible for you in the future. Fortunately, there are things you can do to help prepare your home for aging in place.
Ramps: A Step in the Right Direction
You may think you only need to install ramps over steps if you’re in a wheelchair, but even if you’re not in a wheelchair, this accessibility feature can be beneficial. As you age, your reflexes slow down and muscles weaken. Suddenly making it up and down the stairs isn’t the easy task it once was. Placing an easy-to-navigate ramp over stairs in your house can make the process simpler so you have access to all the areas of your home. These ramps are easy to find for small elevations around the house, but you can find options that go between floors as well. When looking for a ramp, be sure to find a version with handrails and nonslip surface for safety.
Bathroom Safety and Security
Sure, the kitchen has its hot surfaces and sharp knives, but the bathroom has it beat when it comes to the title of the most dangerous room in the house. Taking a shower gets even more dangerous as you age. Falls are the number one reason behind fatal injuries and the most common cause of nonfatal trauma-related hospital admissions for seniors in the United States. Every 11 seconds, an older adult is treated for a fall in an emergency room. To help prevent these dangerous accidents, add nonslip decals along the floor and especially along the tub’s surface. Handrails in the shower area as well as next to the toilet can help when it comes to getting up and down. Speaking of which, it may also help to install a bench and an extending shower head to make bathing easier.
Downsizing Is Always an Option
In the end, it may make more sense for you to trade in your large house for a smaller, more accessible home in which you can enjoy your senior years. Less home means less upkeep. Instead of spending hours cleaning, you can spend them doing what you always imagined you’d enjoy doing during your retirement. Furthermore, living in less space makes it easier to age in place, which is the ultimate goal. When looking for a downsized place, you can also be pickier about your location, so you can find a home in an area near conveniences such as hospitals, your church, grocery stores, or family.
Seniors often opt to downsize their homes not just to accommodate their mobility needs, but also to help save money on living expenses including property taxes and insurance, utilities, and maintenance costs. When you downsize, you’ll want to buy a new home that is less expensive than your previous home. You can review listings in your area to get an idea of what it costs to buy a new home. For instance, in Chicago, the average listing price for a home is $289,900.
It can be hard to consider selling your long-term home where you raised a family and made memories in favor of a smaller place. However, you will see it really is worth it when you experience the simpler life downsizing provides.
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This article is written by Claire Wentz for Sohum Realty Blog
claire@caringfromafar.com
caringfromafar.com
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