There’s no comfort like the comfort of home, and older adults tend to agree. According to a 2021 study by AARP, 77 percent of adults over 50 want to remain in their homes long-term. While some expected this trend to weaken after the pandemic, it appears to be holding steady. For local contractors and home designers, this trend can mean retrofitting or renovating a person’s home to make it safe and comfortable for the years ahead. If you’re considering remaining in your home long-term, it’s never too early to start planning.
“Planning should begin – on average – in a person’s 50s,” says Kirk Williamson, director of operations at JLV Construction. “Early planning allows you to make changes to your living environment, lifestyle, and finances. That’s a time when your financial preparation is progressing towards retirement, and you want to make sure aging in place aligns with that financially.”
MLM Incorporated General Contractor Machi Medrzycki adds that early planning gives you plenty of time to create a comprehensive aging-in-place strategy and get those home modifications accomplished. The process starts with evaluating your current living space for accessibility and safety needs. If you’re not sure how to do that exactly, he says to seek advice from professionals in aging in place while you determine your renovation budget and financing options.
“There is a tremendous amount of information on the web,” says Chris Kornman, principal at Entablature. “If you’re doing a whole house renovation, ask the architect if they have experience in designing for aging in place.”
“Current best practices in construction for aging in place are guided by universal design principles, which focus on creating accessible and user-friendly spaces for people,” says Medrzycki. “Key features include step-free entrances, wider doorways, accessible bathrooms, lever-style door handles, nonslip flooring, good lighting, and smart home technology. There are guidelines to follow – ADA or universal design are the two most commonly known.”
“Licensed builders in Louisiana have mandated continuing education,” adds Williamson. “There are certification programs, but the National Association of Home Builders best practices are a gold standard.”
Once you have an idea of the professionals you want to talk to, what guides your next steps?
“Assess your current needs,” says Williamson. “What are your physical and mental health needs for the home? Are there any current mobility issues in the home? Are there any challenges – narrow doors, cabinets that are too high or low? It is difficult to step over the tub? These are the first cues to look for.”
Renovations are easier in some homes than others – are there considerations to be made between retrofitting your existing home versus undergoing a new build?
“If you are renovating a whole house, there a lot more options for making the home function well, such as widening hallways, reducing the number of thresholds between rooms, and designing the floor plan to get the primary suite on the first floor,” Kornman says. “If you are renovating an entire house, then there is not necessarily much difference between that and new construction. But altering an entire historic home, such as a shotgun or center hall, may take a lot more effort and cost to allow for aging in place versus new construction.”
“It’s usually cheaper to retrofit than begin a new build,” says Williamson. “With a renovation, you may not gut the house but instead prioritize certain areas. Bathrooms, halls, doors, and kitchens can be renovated to fit aging in place on a lighter budget. Retrofitting allows you to stay with what you’re familiar with while being a more affordable option.”
“But, if the house just doesn’t seem like it’s going to make sense for mobility purposes, new builds are better for customization,” he adds. “More than anything, new construction makes sense when we’re talking about maintenance. Older homes require maintenance, while a new build’s plumbing and electrical are newer. As you age in place, you don’t want to have to put up with a lot of maintenance issues.”
According to Medrzycki, “The decision between a new build and renovation for aging in place depends on specific circumstances. If customization, future-proofing, and budget allow, a new build can provide a custom solution with fewer potential issues. However, renovating your existing home can be a cost-effective, emotionally satisfying choice, especially if your current home has a good layout and is in a location you value.”
Let’s dive into to some specific modifications. What kinds of changes should a homeowner expect to make?
“Part of it is making a single-floor living space and reducing the number of steps to go up and down,” says Williamson. “You want to have wider doorways and hallways – in case there’s a need for a wheelchair – and account for turning radius in doorways and halls. Zero-step entries are a big thing – making sure you have ramps in place or, at the very least, gradual sloping steps that can access the home. Another item is proper lighting – making sure pathways are well lit so you don’t have any trips or falls.”
Kitchens and bathrooms are often a main focus for contractors helping clients prepare a home for aging in place. Between the risk added by slippery surfaces in a bathroom to the varied challenges presented in the kitchen, these hot spots offer several opportunities to improve safety.
In kitchens, problems arise in a number of ways. Spilled or splashed liquids can cause slips. High cabinets and shelves make out-of-reach items dangerous to retrieve. Meanwhile, cabinets and shelves that are too low require bending or crouching that can be painful or cause someone to lose balance. Some cabinet and drawer fixtures – especially knobs – can be difficult for a person to firmly grasp.
“In a kitchen, consider smart kitchen faucets that turn on by touch and smart appliances,” says Kornman. “Consider changing cabinets to drawers. Design the walking space between cabinets to allow for a walker or wheel chair – this is typically wider. Place oven doors and microwaves at a height that doesn’t require bending down to reach. Many higher-end fridge doors open by pushing instead of pulling. This requires less strength.”
“Replace cabinet and drawer knobs with handles, which allow more catching space for your hand,” Williamson says. “Make sure shelving and countertops are at lower elevations so that you can access everything as you get older. You may want to consider a ‘pull-up’ sink, or accessible sink, where the bottom under the sink is absent. This allows for chairs and wheelchairs to be able to pull up for better access.”
Medrzycki recommends items like lever-style faucets, which are easier to control. Under-cabinet lighting and task lighting improve safety. He recommends installing adjustable shelving to make stored items more accessible. Additional ideas for the kitchen include designing the space in contrasting colors for flooring, countertops, and cabinets, which helps people with visual impairment. Additionally, nonslip flooring is a must.
For large-scale changes to a kitchen, Medrzycki repeats the need for larger doorways, wheelchair-accessible design, and ADA-compliant design. He notes that features like anti-scald faucets and pull-out pantries are great additions to a kitchen renovation.
“Especially in a kitchen – and equally important in a bathroom – are non-slip surfaces, Williamson says. “A great option is vinyl flooring, which is better for non-slip and is one of most affordable options in construction. This is one of those rare instances where a modification meets budget. You generally want to stay away from tile, stone, and stained concrete. These retain water a lot easier on the surface, causing greater chances of slips and falls.”
While wood flooring isn’t the best option, Williamson adds that water can generally dissipate easier on wood than on hard surfaces like tile, stone, and concrete. Nonslip flooring is also crucial in a bathroom. What other changes should be considered there?
Medrzycki echoes some of what he recommended for the kitchen – using an ADA-compliant design and expanding the bathroom for maneuverability. Additional modifications would include adding anti-slip mats, grab bars, and motion-activated lighting. Showers benefit from an adjustable shower bench, handheld shower head and lever-style faucet controls. The bathroom presents another opportunity for an accessible sink and comfort-height vanity as well.
“A walk-in shower/tub is always the number one modification in a bathroom so that there’s no stepping over a tub railing,” says Williamson. “To make it more comfortable and reduce falls, you can add shower benches so that you don’t have to stand up the whole time. All walk-in showers should have a hand-held shower faucet to allow for individuals to sit down during the showering process.”
“Also, grab bars can be placed near toilets to assist getting up and down. Rugs are often your friend for keeping water off the floor. Finally, make sure the doorway is wide enough for a wheelchair, which should be able to move around freely enough to access the shower,” he says.
Technology is rapidly changing how we interact with our homes and adding new layers of convenience to everyday tasks. What technologies should be incorporated with regard to aging in place?
“Smart home tech is exploding,” Kornman says. “It will continue to improve, become less expensive, and eventually be incorporated into almost everything we use in our homes. Right now, lights, audio/video, and HVAC are the common smart home items. Soon it will be faucets, our appliances, etc.”
Medrzycki notes the benefit of these automated systems and adds that smart home technology can also enhance safety beyond just making life more convenient.
“Don’t negate technology,” says Williamson. “It’s a helpful resource as you get older. We often separate out aging and technology in society, but we shouldn’t—we don’t find that to be the case anymore. Ensure that you’re using fiberoptic cable for faster internet. We’re finding older adults are increasingly using Google Home and Amazon Alexa for voice commands and to ask questions – ’Call Sarah. What’s on my schedule today? Set me a timer.’ You can ask it to play music, which helps people feel better. These types of things are a huge benefit over having to get up, walk over, and push a button, which can be difficult for many individuals.”
Some homeowners preparing to age in place have concerns about what these modifications will do to the aesthetic and resale value of the home. There are ways, though, to maintain style, and many changes actually enhance the home.
“Universal design doesn’t mean sacrificing aesthetics for functionality,” says Medrzycki. “Avoid the myth that universally designed spaces can’t be visually appealing and that they’re prohibitively expensive. These modifications can future-proof the home, making it suitable for aging occupants or those with disabilities, which can be an attractive feature. Homes with accessibility features may suggest that the property has been well-maintained and cared for, which can positively influence its perceived value.”
“Look, there’s a large subset of people who age – it’s about 100% of us,” Williamson says. “The reality is that there are a lot of buyers out there looking for things like this. Many of these retrofits are not just for older adults – there’s a large population of homebuyers who have disabilities, who also need houses like this. The combination of these populations makes for a large potential market.”
When making modifications, a homeowner doesn’t have to sacrifice style. According to Williamson, there are ways to make changes feel less clinical. For instance, he recommends that a widened door be complemented by bigger trim, giving it a stylish and more grand effect. Just because your cabinets are hung lower doesn’t mean they can’t be stylish, and no one will accuse an elegant bar-style drawer pull for being anything more than it is.
“Even though you want brighter lighting, your fixtures and sconces can be beautiful,” says Williamson. “Your grab bars can be nice – you can choose squared off instead of rounded or gold instead of the brushed nickel you might be used to. Don’t relegate yourself to clinical choices. Don’t sacrifice style.”
