10 Home Improvement Ideas for Aging in Place

It is important for seniors to plan ahead for their golden years and
consider how they can age in place in their own homes. This can be a more
affordable and preferable option than assisted living or nursing home care.
To make sure your home can accommodate your needs now and in the future,
consider meeting with a geriatric occupational therapist and discussing
specific improvements you may need. Additionally, consider your overall
health and potential for mobility issues in the future.

These are 10 common and easy home improvements seniors can make to adapt
their homes for senior living:

• Adding accessibility features like ramps and grab bars

• Upgrading the bathroom with a roll-in tub or curbless shower

• Improving energy efficiency with upgrades to heating, cooling and appliances

• Removing fall hazards like throw rugs and maintaining wide pathways throughout the house

• Addressing lighting issues

• Installing an alarm system

• Replacing door knobs and cabinet hardware with
  levers,

• Using bed risers and power seat uplift assists

• Installing door entry intercoms or smart home integration

• Use a personal emergency response system.

When it comes to accessibility, it's important to consider whether your home
has at least one entryway that does not have stairs. This is particularly
important if you or your spouse has mobility issues, as stairs can become
difficult to navigate over time. One option is to install ramps or
stairlifts to make it easier to move around your home. Additionally, adding
grab bars to stairs, tubs, and showers can help reduce the risk of falls.

In terms of bathroom upgrades, getting in and out of a bathtub and shower
combination can be dangerous as seniors' agility declines. A roll-in tub is
an affordable option for converting a tub to a shower. It is designed to
help you maintain your independence and bathe with dignity. Another option
is to install curbless showers for wheelchair access.

Energy efficiency is also an important consideration for seniors who rely on
a fixed income. By upgrading to energy-efficient heating and cooling systems
and appliances, you can save money on electricity and gas while staying
comfortable in your home. Additionally, checking your attic insulation and
upgrading your windows with energy-efficient replacement windows can provide
additional energy cost savings. If you make these upgrades or replacements
before December 31, 2023, you may also qualify for a substantial tax credit.

Falls are the leading cause of disability in older people, so it's important
to take steps to prevent them. You can do this by removing throw rugs,
relocating furniture, securing loose wires, using non-skid spray on tile and
linoleum floors, and maintaining a wide area for movement in hallways and
pathways in other rooms. Additionally, make sure your hallways and rooms are
clear enough for a wheelchair to get through easily.

Dimly lit areas present another fall hazard, so it's important to address
lighting issues throughout the house. Take extra care that light fixtures
have at least two bulbs in vital areas such as the entryway, bathrooms, and
kitchen. This way, when one bulb burns out, you still have light in that
area. Make sure light switches are low enough to easily reach from a
wheelchair.

Installing an alarm system can help protect seniors from burglars while
providing peace of mind and often making it easier to get emergency
services. Arthritis and other conditions can make it harder to open doors
and cabinets. You can make it easier by replacing door knobs and cabinet
hardware with levers, which are much easier to grasp. Additionally, getting
out of bed or standing up from a sitting position can become more difficult
as we age. Installing bed risers or using power seat uplift assists and
rising recliners can make it easier to get up and down.

Answering the door can be difficult for those who can't get up from a
sitting position easily, but an intercom allows you to communicate with the
person outside the door and even press a button to let them in, all from
where you are sitting. Finally, a personal emergency response system can be
a lifesaver for seniors who live alone. This is a lightweight,
battery-powered "help" button that is carried by the user and transmits to a
console connected to the user's telephone. When emergency help is needed,
such as medical, fire, or police, the user can press the transmitter's
"help" button, sending a radio signal to the console which then
automatically dials one or more emergency telephone numbers.