Aging-in-Place: Adapting Your Home for Safety and Comfort

When many chose their forever home, they typically think about kids playing in the backyard and family dinners. Not always do they think about adapting their home as their family grows and changes. Fewer still think about how needs change as the years go by. So if you haven’t prioritized adapting your home for aging-in-place, you are in good company.

We work with our clients to make sure their home is exactly what they need to age-in-place now and for the next 20+ years. Our process focuses on ensuring our clients can use their entire home safely and comfortably with the freedom they have earned. Here’s what we’ve learned to make your home the perfect place to age:

Make Changes to Your Home Before You Need Them to Age Gracefully

When you look around your home today, odds are there is nothing you need adapted for how you live today. In fact, your home might continue to be safe and comfortable for you as it is for a while longer.

But at the same time, there are many simple changes you can make today that will impact your daily life in a positive way. For example: for someone with arthritic hands, replacing traditional toggle light switches with easier-to-use rocker switches and round door knobs with easier-to-grasp door levers will reduce strain on your hands and alleviate arthritic pain from tasks you do 40+ times per day. It’s a little change that won’t take a handyman too long to do, but will make a significant impact.

 Other changes take more time, and you need to hire a contractor and order materials. This is for changes such as widening doorways so that walkers can easily make it through. While a more major change, proactive changes gives you the time to get your ideal choices that will make practical adaptations feel like the luxury upgrades they can be.

A Bigger Change for Aging-in-Place: Flooring Makes a Difference

A flooring renovation is a bigger project than replacing light switches and door knobs, but it can also can improve your quality of life significantly.

Installing smooth, non-slip surfaces such as engineered hardwood, cork, vinyl, or linoleum (this isn’t your parent’s linoleum – it’s much nicer and a higher quality than linoleum was 30 years ago – will reduce joint impact from tile and increase mobility from carpet plus has added texture for non-slip protection.

Further, if you are intentional with your flooring and subflooring choices, you will be able to minimize doorway transitions which will have the added benefit of making your home flow better from room to room.

Shower and bathroom floors are especially important. Don’t let those slippery surfaces become a nemesis! No matter what aesthetic you want for your bathrooms there is a floor tile rated for wet areas and designed to have enough grip to never have to do that gasp and grab move. We’ve all done it a few times, and avoiding it is best at any age.

Comprehensive Bathroom Renovations to Allow for Aging-in-Place

Upgrading a tub/foldable combo to a walk-in shower and creating a built-in seat will be a feature you love immediately, it also makes your shower more accessible. We can also make sure it is a zero entry walk-in which will ensure it is as easy to shower without aid in 2040 as it is today.

If you love having a bathtub, consider a walk-in tub. These bathtubs are made with a watertight door that you open to step easily into your tub. Being able to climb in and out of your tub is probably something you take for granted. Choosing an adapted bathtub now will ensure it is easy to draw a bubble bath for years to come.

How Golden Home Management Helps Homeowners Age-In-Place

Our monthly subscription service costs $99 per month and includes monthly visits from your home coordinator (to check how everything is doing) as well as a monthly hour-long visit from a handyman (who can replace light switches, door knobs, fix the garbage disposal, or handle the monthly maintenance for your HVAC system). At no additional cost, we will also coordinate any larger project such as replacing your flooring or renovating a bathroom by vetting contractors, getting bids, and ensuring you get what you pay for.

You should be able to enjoy your home without having to spend your time worrying about home maintenance. We’re here to help you make adjustments to your home to improve safety and maximize livability. Contact us today for a free assessment or simply to learn more about how we can help.