More and more, seniors are opting to improve their properties to make them extra accessible quite than getting into retirement services. In accordance with AARP, in 2021, 77% of adults over 50 would favor to age in place if they’d the selection. Growing old in place could make extra monetary sense for some seniors because of the rising prices of assisted dwelling care.

 A current Value of Care Survey from Genworth Monetary discovered that the nationwide median month-to-month price of assisted dwelling is about $5,350. However, house modifications can vary from very reasonably priced smaller tasks to larger-scale renovations. Listed here are 10 upgrades seniors are making to their properties in lieu of retirement services. 

1. Upgrading Bogs

The most typical upgrades seniors are making to their properties are lavatory updates. Renovations could embrace putting in walk-in showers or tubs, handheld bathe heads, seize bars, bathe seats, and raised bathrooms. 

Retrofitting loos has develop into very simple and extra reasonably priced. Many installers can accomplish this challenge in a day with no permits concerned. These upgrades permit seniors additional security of their loos, the place accidents are more likely to occur. 

2. Incorporating Extra Lighting

Most slips and falls happen at night time due to decreased visibility. To fight this, seniors are including extra lighting with simple rocker switches or movement sensors. Spotlights are additionally essential in closely used areas just like the kitchen. 

3. Investing In Sensible Residence Expertise

Sensible expertise can provide seniors an additional degree of safety of their properties. Safety techniques like Ring are simple to make use of and are managed by an app. Many seniors are additionally including techniques that regulate their thermostats, flip off plugs or the range, provide you with a warning when a door is opened, and activate lights. Moreover, some techniques may be useful in an emergency by alerting emergency providers and family members.

4. Shopping for New Furnishings

Not solely are structural enhancements mandatory, however seniors are additionally contemplating how their furnishings will help them age in place. Ergonomic furnishings may be helpful if seniors expertise mobility points down the road. 

Many seniors are additionally contemplating if their furnishings layouts could have additional house for shifting round and, subsequently, are choosing much less cumbersome furnishings with fewer sharp edges. 

5. Transferring The Main Bed room to The First Stage

Seniors are additionally reconsidering the tales of their properties and making mandatory changes, akin to shifting their major bed room to the primary ground or including a toilet on the principle degree to keep away from stairs. If shifting their bed room to the primary ground isn’t attainable, seniors may also add stair lifts for elevated accessibility. Stair lifts can sometimes price between $4,000 and $8,000. 

6. Changing Slippery Flooring

Slips and falls are the main explanation for damage to seniors who select to age in place. Many seniors are altering their flooring to keep away from this, particularly if they’ve slippery tile or hardwood flooring. A low and dense pile carpet is your best option for added traction. 

7. Including Out of doors Ramps and Handrails

Accessibility outdoors the house is an important enchancment for seniors. Including a ramp and handrails provides seniors peace of thoughts that they’ll simply come and go from their properties. The typical price of a ramp ranges from $1,300 to $4,000.

8. Modifying Kitchen Design

Cuts and burns are the second commonest sort of damage to seniors within the house after falls. To assist keep away from this, seniors are modifying their kitchens by decreasing counter tops and rounding counter edges. 

One other simple repair is swapping out drawer and cupboard pulls for wider pulls with delicate ergonomic shapes, making them simpler to understand. Smooth-close cupboards and drawers are additionally simple additions. Altering out broad basin sinks for one thing shallower can also be a good suggestion to keep away from an excessive amount of bending over. Most hands-free sinks even have anti-scald gadgets. It could even be helpful to widen the kitchen’s footprint for additional accessibility. 

9. Swapping Spherical Door Knobs for Lever Handles

An easy swap that seniors are making is changing spherical door handles round the home with lever handles. These handles are a lot simpler to grip, particularly for these with arthritis. 

10. Repurposing Rooms for Hobbies

Seniors are additionally updating their properties to accommodate how they need to spend their golden years. For some seniors, this implies upgrading an grownup little one’s outdated room to an artwork studio or cozy library. 

Offset the Value of Residence Upgrades

Upgrading your property so that you could age in place as a substitute of shifting right into a retirement facility doesn’t must be a frightening endeavor. By specializing in these 10 commonest upgrades seniors are making to their properties, you may keep in your house it doesn’t matter what your wants may be sooner or later. 

Whereas these tasks vary in price, some could also be coated by insurance coverage or be tax deductible. This financial help will help you offset the prices related to getting older in place.

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Teri Monroe began her profession in communications working for native authorities and nonprofits. At the moment, she is a contract finance and way of life author and small enterprise proprietor. In her spare time, she loves {golfing} along with her husband, taking her canine Milo on lengthy walks, and taking part in pickleball with buddies.