More and more seniors are staying active for much longer than generations before, and are choosing to remain in their homes for as long as they can. In fact, 77 percent of adults over 50 prefer to age in place, according to Forbes. Staying in the homes they’ve lived in for decades is more appealing to them than moving into a nursing home or assisted living facility.
If you have a single-story ranch-style home, it will be quite easy to retrofit it to align with your mobility and health care needs as you get older. Check out these home remodeling ideas for aging in place from your trusted Boston contractors.
Single-Story Living: Ideal For Aging in Place
Many seniors with multi-story homes realize as they age that their home style isn’t conducive to aging in place. That’s because stairs pose a big problem for those with mobility issues. That’s why ranch style homes are ideal if you’re going to age in place, as they tend to feature more open floor plans as well as living areas and bedrooms that are all on the same floor. Some do have stairs and basements but can be arranged to accommodate everything on one level.
In this type of setting, aging seniors can keep up a similar quality of life as they age, even when facing mobility and health challenges. In ranch style homes, you don’t have to install a costly lift or stair chair to get upstairs. Most modifications are fairly non-invasive and affordable, plus they are easier to clean and maintain.
Ranch-Style Home Remodeling Tips
Due to rising costs of long-term care and a fast-growing senior population with the aging of the Boomer generation, more seniors are choosing to stay where they are rather than move. And with the advancement of technology and convenient service availability, such as grocery and home meal delivery, it’s easier than ever for older adults to remain independent in their homes.
Check out these ranch-style home remodeling tips that will allow you to stay at home for longer.
Get an Assessment
A safety assessment by a professional will take into account your home’s current layout and pinpoint challenges that come with it. Once those challenges are identified, a plan can be created that will take into account any mobility issues that may arise in the future, such as making the layout more walker- and wheelchair-accessible. Your bathroom may need grab bars, and your kitchen counter may need to be lowered, for example.
Make Exterior Upgrades
Exterior considerations to think about include:
- Creating One (At Least) No-Step Entry Into Your House: Make sure you have at least one of these, and make sure the entryway is covered to protect yourself and guests from the elements.
- Install No-Slip Walkway: In order to prevent possible injuries,make somelandscaping upgrades to your entryway. Stones such as slate should be avoided, as they can get slippery when wet. Try well-maintained grass walkways instead.
- Upgrade Exterior Lighting: Did you know that by the age of 75, most adults need 2x as much light over the recommended standard? To that end, you should upgrade your entry, pathway and stair lighting to make these spaces safer to navigate.
- Install Lever-Style Entry Door Knobs/Keypad Entry Locks: Lever-style door knobs are easier to grip and operate, as they don’t need a twisting motion to open — great for those with arthritis or limited ranges of motion. Instead of cumbersome keys, install a keycard or code system to enter the home. The keypad should have well-lit, large numbers. Automatic locks that can be controlled with a phone app are also a good option.
- Build a Ramp: Even if you’re not yet ready for a walker or wheelchair now, you may in the future.
Contact AD Construction
We can help with your aging in place home improvement design, thanks to a talented team of Boston contractors that accommodate the needs of older adults all the time. Just call AD Construction at 877-345-BUILD to get a free quote.
