Making Your Home More Accessible Through Professional Remodeling
On January 1, 2011, Baby Boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964) officially began crossing over into the "65 and older" category.
Approximately 10,000 more will continue passing that threshold every day for the next 19 years. With more than 70% planning on living out the rest of their lives in the space where they celebrated their milestone birthdays (according to seniorresource.com), families supporting their decisions are faced with helping make their homes safer and their spaces more accessible.
As the population continues to age (because we have a shift in the number of older folks in our population vs. young) this problem will grow, with more and more people deciding to stay in place and at home. But many are faced with health or disability issues and aren’t as mobile as they once were. Those challenges are often compounded when spaces are difficult to move around in, or there's more than one floor, both easy invitations for a fall. Whether dealing with an existing disability or planning for the future, making the right modifications to a home are critical in helping someone age safely in place.
Modifying a living space simply means making it safer for people who are less mobile. If a home is heavily carpeted, for instance, consider replacing it with something that provides better footing. Bathroom showers and tub areas can be modified with a “step-in” entrance, and hand bars can be installed for easy and safe entrance and exit from the shower.
If your loved one is in a wheelchair, you may want to recommend expanded hallways and wider door openings for their home. In certain cases, you might want to suggest having a wheelchair ramp installed over steps to make access much easier.
Modifying a home so it's more accessible doesn't have to be an expensive process. Just make sure to spend time understanding the needs of your loved one or considering your future needs, and help create a space that's best suited to those needs. Also, be sure to hire a Certified-Aging-In-Place Specialist like Barry Corbett of Corbett Design Build!
