Age in Place Effortlessly: An Essential Guide to Creating Your Forever Home

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Are you considering selling the home you love and moving away from the community you want to live in simply because of accessibility issues?
You’re not alone. According to recent studies from the Urban Institute, the number of households headed by people 65 and older is expected to increase from 34 million to 48 million within the next 20 years. Of those polled, a whopping 71 percent said their house has accessibility issues that would limit their ability to remain in their home.

People value their independence. They want to age independently and stay within the comfort of their own home. According to the AARP “2021 Home and Community Preferences Survey,” 77 percent of adults 50 and older want to remain in their home for the long term. Unfortunately, most houses haven’t been designed for aging adults or people with disabilities.

As we age, multi-level homes may become more difficult or even impossible to access due to the increased challenge that stairs present. Indira Venkat, Vice President of Consumer Insights at AARP, states, “Unfortunately, most houses weren't built to support the needs of people across the many stages of life. The best way to continue living in the home you love is to plan ahead and make changes that will accommodate your needs today and in the future.”

The good news is that for those adults with mobility issues, numerous solutions exist that will allow you to age in place and remain in your treasured home. The home modification of an elevator or lift will facilitate the accessibility and safety of your entire house.

Residential Elevators are on the Rise

Older homeowners, people planning for their retirement and those considering multigenerational households with aging parents are searching for solutions for aging in place.
In fact, the number of Americans living in multigenerational households has quadrupled since 1971, according to a March 24, 2022, Pew Research Center Report. As of March 2021, 59.7 million U.S. residents live in multigenerational family households (compared with 58.4 million in 2019).
This is one reason why the demand for residential elevators, lifts and dumbwaiters has increased exponentially over the past several years.

With the cost of land going up, houses are going vertical. Homebuilders are considering the positive impact that residential elevators have on a homeowner’s ability to age in place. There is a growing trend to include elevators or the adaptable design technique of stacked closets for the future addition of an elevator in new construction homes.

Investing in a home elevator has many benefits. Elevators and lifts can help you stay in your home and age in place by making all floors safely accessible. Home modifications can prevent injuries from falling and reduce the costs associated with falls.
The value of your home can also increase by 10 percent or more by adding a residential elevator, according to Retirement Living. Additionally, houses with elevators have greater curb appeal and improve your home’s uniqueness in a competitive market.
Tim Fischer, CEO of Southeast Elevator, has observed that, “Retrofitting a home with an elevator or lift is becoming part of the retirement planning process for many people, and it is allowing people to stay in their forever home as they age in place.”

Measuring the Cost Effectiveness of Aging in Place

Aging in place is one of the most cost-effective choices older homeowners can make. Living in the home you already own can help to avoid costly stays in an assisted living facility or nursing home.
According to the Genworth Financial 2021 Cost of Care statistics, the average cost of assisted living in the United States is $4,500 per month and a shared room in a nursing home can be more than $7,900 per month. The addition of an elevator or lift could easily save you tens of thousands of dollars every year that you are able to remain in your own home.

Many people have the outdated notion that an elevator is something that only luxury homeowners can acquire. This is no longer true, as residential elevators are becoming attainable for many more people.
When you compare the time, cost and inconvenience of selling your home, purchasing a new one, renting or moving into an assisted living facility with the cost of a new elevator, there’s simply no comparison in terms of price and quality of life for those who want to remain in their own home.

Proactively Plan for the Changes That Occur in Life as You Grow Older

There are many conveyance options for existing homeowners who want to consider age in place remodeling, as well as people building their new homes with future accessibility and safety in mind:

1. Traditional elevators, whether hydraulic, overhead winding drum or pitless, require an enclosed cab and a shaft. They’re typically used to access two or more floors inside a home and can carry more weight than a lift. An indoor elevator requires more site preparation than a lift.
2. Pneumatic (PVE) vacuum elevators use air pressure to raise and lower the cab and require no shaft, pit or machine room.

3. Vertical platform lifts most commonly have an open cab but are also available with an enclosure. They can be installed both indoors and outdoors and have a maximum travel distance of 14’. Lifts are ideal for wheelchair users who need to travel up to a porch or deck. They save a lot of space! A lift’s small footprint occupies considerably less space than a wheelchair ramp.

4. Outdoor elevators and lifts are a great solution and something to consider when improving your home’s accessibility if you can’t or don’t want to sacrifice space inside your home.

5. Stairlifts attach to the wall or banister of a staircase and carry a seated passenger comfortably up the stairs.

How Do You Know What Option to Choose?

The best elevator for your home is the one that suits your specific needs, site conditions, budget and floor plan. Finding the right residential elevator company will help you discover the most effective solutions to ensure you remain in your forever home and age in place.

3 Ways to Prepare Before an Aging Loved One Moves in With You

As your loved ones age, they may find it more difficult to maintain a high standard of living in their own home. Rather than arrange for them to enter a nursing facility, you can have them join your family home. 

This is an increasingly common arrangement. More older parents are moving in with adult children, with 31.9% of the adult population of the U.S. living in a shared household of two or more adults. Yet, it isn’t a step that should be taken lightly. Having a parent or other loved one move in with you requires careful and considerate planning. 

Let’s take a moment to explore three ways you can prepare before an aging loved one moves in with you.

Set Boundaries

Having your aging loved ones move in with you can be an enriching experience for everyone involved. That isn’t to say it will be entirely stress-free, though. There’s a lot of emotional and practical baggage surrounding parents or grandparents sharing space with their adult relatives. One of the ways to mitigate conflicts is to set clear boundaries.

Get together before the moving process begins and discuss this issue openly. Be honest about what your individual concerns are about the arrangement and aspects you each feel will be difficult. Establish where you believe you should draw lines in the shared living arrangements. 

Boundary areas may include:

• Maintaining one another’s privacy

• If you have children, asserting your position as the authority figure

• Paying for bills

• Decorating or organizing the home to individual preferences

• Protocols for inviting guests and hosting gatherings

• Acceptable times for noise or disruptive activities

Adjust for Accessibility

Your aging loved ones may have different accessibility needs compared to you and your family. Therefore, the current design of your home and its features may not make for a practical or comfortable environment for older occupants. It’s vital to consider what adjustments need to be made to make the space safe for your relatives and their guests. 

Talk to your loved one about the challenges they tend to face in the home. Discuss whether they require handrails to be installed in bathrooms or for non-slip flooring to be laid. It’s not uncommon for aging loved ones to need wheelchairs or other mobility aids to maintain their independence. You may, therefore, need to widen doorways or install ramps in entryways and over steps.

While there are costs associated with this, many older people get help paying for ramps through Medicare and Medicaid and and Medicaid. This can reduce the financial burden on your family significantly. However, reimbursement generally only applies when ramps are medically necessary. Therefore, it’s wise to collaborate with your loved one in making applications to meet the requirements in your state. You may need to get confirmation from a doctor that home adaptations are medically required.

Consolidate Belongings

Up until now, you and your aging relative will have lived largely independent lives. During that time, you’ll likely each have gathered a collection of personal belongings. Some of these will have sentimental value. Yet, often it’s not practical to fit the entire contents of both of your homes in one space. It’s important to prepare for the move by mindfully consolidating items.

Making decisions about what to keep can tie into many of the other considerations that go into arranging for your parents to move closer to you. Think about their current lifestyle and what elements support their activities. If they have pets, you’ll need to look at items that are not just important to your loved one but also to the animal. You should also discuss the potential stress of the move itself, and how a lot of packing can exacerbate this. But it’s good to think about what will give them comfort once they’ve arrived, too.

Be open to discarding some of your own items. Though, it’s important to remember that you will certainly already be doing your part by providing them with space in your home. Aim to take a balanced and fair approach to your decisions. Indeed, this can be a template for your living arrangements together moving forward. 

Conclusion

If an aging loved one is moving in with you, considerate preparation is a must. Take the time to set clear boundaries to ensure good living conditions for everyone. Review what accessibility adjustments may be necessary for your loved one’s mobility. You’ll each have a lot of belongings, so a considerate purge or consolidation of items may be in order, too. Shared living arrangements between multiple adults aren’t always easy, but your preparations can help you start off on the right foot.

Top 4 Flooring Options for Elderly Individuals

As people age, needs change. Older individuals need flooring that is comfortable and easy to maintain, as well as sturdy and long-lasting. Here are some of the top flooring options for elderly people to consider.

Carpet

Carpet is a popular option for elderly homeowners due to its softness and comfort underfoot. It also helps reduce noise levels and offers insulation against cold floors. Additionally, carpet can be relatively easy to clean with regular vacuuming. However, it can be difficult to maneuver over with a walker or wheelchair, and it may not be the best option if you suffer from allergies or asthma.

Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl flooring is an excellent choice for seniors because it is affordable, durable, water-resistant, and low maintenance. It comes in a wide range of colors and patterns so you can customize your home’s look easily. The downside is that it can be slippery when wet and may require additional padding for extra comfort underfoot.

Hardwood Floors 

Hardwood floors offer an elegant look that can last for years with proper care and maintenance. They are also easy to clean—simply sweep or vacuum regularly—and non-slip when properly sealed with a finish coat. The downside is that they may require refinishing every few years if they become scratched or dulled by wear over time. However, hardwood flooring is a tried and true option for individuals of all ages. 

Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring combines the look of wood with the durability of vinyl while still being affordable and easy to install on your own (or with help). It’s also scratch-resistant, which makes it ideal for households with pets or active grandchildren who might cause damage to other types of flooring options over time. The downside is that laminate floors may not be as comfortable underfoot as other materials such as carpet or hardwood—though this could easily be remedied by adding area rugs throughout your home for added warmth and comfort where needed!

There are many factors to consider when selecting flooring options for elderly individuals but these four are some of the most popular choices available today due to their durability, affordability, comfort level, ease of maintenance/installation, non-slip properties (where applicable), and attractive aesthetic appeal! When making your decision, remember to factor in any special considerations such as allergies/asthma concerns or mobility issues so you can make sure you choose the right material for you or your loved one's needs!

Home Upgrades To Make Retired Life Easier

Is retirement right around the corner? Have health problems affected how you get around the house? It could be time for a home update. Whether you opt to renovate, downsize to a smaller house, or go for a custom remodel, there are certain features you ought to include. Here is a brief look into home upgrades and helpful features to make your golden years safer and more comfortable. 

Let’s start with one of the most important rooms to modify for senior living: the bathroom. Necessary for day-to-day activities, these rooms get a lot of use but are also considered high-risk for slips and falls. To create a more suitable space, it’s recommended to install either a walk-in tub or a curbless shower with room enough for a chair. These features make bathing less demanding on the aging body and reduce the risk of injury from accidental falls. They ought to be fitted with additional safety features — such as grab bars and handrails — to further prevent bathroom-related accidents.

Other bathroom changes include upgrading to nonslip floor tiles, raising the toilet seat to 17 inches high, and swapping out knob-style faucets and handles for lever-style models. Alterations such as these work to improve accessibility as knees and hands become stiffer or even arthritic with age. 

Another safety change to consider throughout the house is the lighting. As vision fades, it may lead to increased fall risks and confusion. To help, it’s advised to install brighter yet indirect lighting as this alternative reduces glares and shadows, which are potential trip hazards as depth perception may be faultier in some seniors. Along the same lines is replacing older bulbs with LED models as these do not require replacement as frequently.

Additional recommendations related to lighting include using large, rocker-type light switches around the house, night lights leading to the bathroom, and under-cabinet lights in the kitchen. If opting for a custom remodel, consider adding larger windows, glass doors, or even skylights to bring in more natural light. Research shows sunlight therapy is beneficial in old age as it helps with depression, supplies vitamin D, and gives the home a cheerier disposition during the day.

It’s estimated that by 2050, over a fifth of the population in the United States will be 65 or older. As a result, there will be a greater selection of these features and others like them designed to enhance senior living. As you plan for retirement, be sure to set aside funds to make your home as safe, functional, and accommodating to the challenges of aging as possible.

For further examples of designing your home for retired life, please see the accompanying resource.

Provided by McKay Vassaur - home builder temple tx