There are many reasons to stay in your home as you enter your golden years. Proactively ensuring you can comfortably live in your home can help you easily navigate your house and engage in daily activities. In addition, adapting your house to your anticipated future needs can help keep you comfortable as your physical needs change. Read on for the best home projects to complete for aging in your home.
Upgrade the handrails
If your home has more than one level and you plan to use all the levels of your home, ensure your stair railings are sturdy and firmly secured. Replacing the handrail, spindles and other aspects of the stairway system with a sturdier, more reinforced version can help you feel secure as you hold on to the railing for years to come.
Consider an elevator
If your home has the space, installing an elevator may be the best option for your lifestyle. Working with an architect can help you identify the best elevator installation location without disrupting your home’s entire floor plan.
Evaluate your floor surfaces
Some types of flooring are more slippery than others, which can help contribute to falls. If you prefer carpeting, select a low-pile carpet. Higher pile carpets can lead to tripping. Polished tile, such as polished marble, is another slipping hazard. If you like marble flooring in the bathrooms, select a honed marble. Smaller tile pieces like penny tile also have more traction than larger slabs. If your main living areas are wood floors, avoid over-polishing, which can make the surface too slippery. Luxury vinyl and textured tile are both options to help prevent falls.
Level the surface
If your home has surfaces that aren’t entirely even, such as a sunken living room or areas that require stepping down a step or two, have these sunken areas removed so the space is one level surface. This can help prevent any unintentional tripping.
Increase the doorways
Proactively widening doorways can be helpful if a wheelchair is needed in the future. Increasing the width of the openings can ensure that any potential equipment can be accommodated.
Remodel the kitchen
Remodeling your kitchen to focus on pull-out shelving on the lower cabinets can allow you to seamlessly navigate your kitchen as you age without storing heavy appliances or dinnerware in the upper cabinets. In addition, keeping kitchen appliances at eye level and installing a pot filler above the stove are additional ways to improve the kitchen’s overall convenience.
Invest in smart home technology
Smart home technology can help you maintain your home directly from your phone. For example, smart lighting can allow you to control the lighting from your phone, so you can light up the house before arriving home or entering a room. A smart thermostat can keep the home at a comfortable temperature. A smart lock can ensure your home is always secure.
