About 90% of people want to stay in their own homes as they age. However, it’s important to keep in mind that as you age, you won’t be able to navigate your home as you did when you were younger. For, instance, the risk of slipping and falling with be higher even if nothing changes in the home. As such, it’s crucial to take some time and prepare your home for your elderly years if you want to remain in it. Here is how you can prepare your home for future aging in place.
Make Changes to Your Bathroom
The bathroom is one of the first rooms that you must think about when it comes to aging in place. This is because it’s normal to find some water on the bathroom floor at some point and that presents a serious falling hazard. To avoid situations like this, you must think about installing a floor with a better grip in the bathroom. It’s also crucial to install grab bars. Most agile seniors believe that they won’t need grab bars and that might be true, but it’s important for you to do everything that can prevent you from falling. As such, it’s better to be overprepared than to be underprepared. Lastly, you will want to make sure there is enough storage in the bathroom so that everything can be packed in a neat way to avoid clutter.
Prioritize Easy Entry
As you are aging, you must consider increasing the ease with which you enter your home. For instance, your home might have a number of steps leading to the door. As you grow older, it will become difficult for you to go up these steps without support. As such, you must consider installing a ramp that fits atop the entryway steps. The ramp can either be removable or fixed and you can choose one made from wood, metal, or cement. It all depends on your preference and budget. This way, you can find something to support you as you are entering your house.
Think About Access to Electricity
Access to electricity is crucial for everyone in your home, including you. So, as you grow older, inspect your home and take note of any power outlets and light switches that might be lower than your hips or higher than your shoulders. While you might be able to easily access these now, they will present a real challenge in the future. This means you must get them moved to a level you can easily access. You should also look into a home energy audit to improve your home’s energy efficiency. This can help you save up to 30% on your monthly bills.
Get a Home Inspection
As you are getting older, you must also ensure that your home is in tip-top shape. There are many things that can threaten the structural integrity of your home and make it impossible for you to stay in it. For instance, you must get your foundation checked. However, as you are doing that, you must make sure that there is no residual damage done if the foundation is repaired. Your foundation can get cracked in the process, and while 70% of the cracked with come together, 20% will stay the same and the remainder will worsen. All this should be inspected and fixed so you can stay in your home for as long as you want.
These are some of the things that you must do to prepare your home for old age. If you’re ready to start prepping your home for the future, don’t forget to take these steps.