As polls show, most Americans over 50 want to stay in their own homes as they age instead of getting moved to a retirement facility. It’s understandable! Who would want to leave their familiar home and community for a new place they hardly know? But staying put requires a home that is practical for maintaining a good quality of life, something that not all homes can offer. The problem is that only 1% of the nation’s housing stock includes features that make senior living safe and comfortable.
So if you plan on aging in place, remodeling your home in Portland is often the best way to work towards that goal. You can build universal design features into your home to make sure the space adapts to your changing needs. These changes range from small tweaks like replacing light switches to larger projects like adding caregiver suites. But their goal is always the same: easy and safe daily living as your vision and mobility shift.
Don’t wait until you start facing barriers to staying in your home! Start planning these upgrades now, even if they feel far off. Your next home improvement project offers the perfect opportunity. Whether you’re supporting a parent or another family member or thinking ahead for yourself, here’s a guide on modifying your kitchen and bathroom for aging in place.
Incorporating beautiful, seamless universal design features is becoming more common in new-home construction and whole-house remodeling. These features, such as flush thresholds, lever door handles, and non-slip bathroom surfaces, accommodate people with limited mobility but also make living in a home easier for anyone – thus the term “universal.”
Below are a handful of popular universal design features so you can age in place comfortably and stylishly:
If you’re in the planning stages of a kitchen remodel or a whole-home remodel, this is the perfect time to research ways you can make aging in place safer and more comfortable for older adults without sacrificing your vision.
The kitchen is filled with opportunities to make aging in place easier. The goal of this kind of remodel is to reduce bending over, reaching, and falling. Talk to your designer or builder to find out which features are feasible for your space and your budget, but here are some key ones to consider:
There are a number of modifications that you can make to countertops to help people with limitations and provide options that work for all. Here are some common elements:
When it comes to accessibility in the kitchen, it’s all about how easy it is to use and navigate through various storage solutions. Here are some accessibility-oriented options:
There's no reason to modify everything but the kitchen sink. You have many options for making your sink easy to use for many years to come. Here are some of them:
For appliances, it’s all about small modifications that make using the kitchen safer and more comfortable. Let’s take a look at some of the popular options:
Elements to consider:
Having proper lighting is especially important in spaces like the kitchen, where functionality matters most. Here’s how you can improve it:
Your remodel to support your plan to age in place doesn’t have to look institutional. Many of the modifications to create an accessible bathroom aren't obvious, even as they make it easy for you to reach and access everything you need. Here are some ways you can “age-proof” your bathroom and, incidentally, make it more convenient to use for anyone.
Mounted in strategic spots, like inside the shower, near its door, and next to the toilet, grab bars are critical for balance. Plus, with the options available today, you’re not limited to features that look like they belong in a hospital or a nursing home! These bars now come in different finishes to match and complement your bathroom hardware, and can even be disguised as towel racks, shower shelves, and toilet paper holders. Keep in mind, however, that the walls where the grab bars will be mounted should be reinforced to take the weight.
A floor-level shower with a collapsible rubber water dam instead of no threshold at all and an appropriately sloped floor is a lifesaver for wheelchair users and people with other mobility issues. This roll-in shower should have a built-in seat or one that easily drops down to the right height and size to make bathing easy and comfortable. Other features that could improve accessibility include easily adjustable water controls, an anti-scalding valve, and a handheld shower extension that you can use while seated or that a caregiver can use from outside the shower.
Regular tubs are hard to climb into and out of safely, so the new design should include one of the alternatives. Walk-in tubs seem to be all the rage right now, and while they have benefits over standard ones, do your research before you invest. A slide-in tub is similar but even easier to use for many and may be an even better choice! If you’re looking for an option to add to the existing one, a chair lift is also a solid option!
For toilets, vanities, and sinks, think “comfort height.” A slightly taller toilet, around 17 to 19 inches from seat to floor, makes it easier to sit down and stand back up or to transfer from a wheelchair. If you’re remodeling a bathroom, consider installing dual sinks. One can be set lower for someone in a wheelchair, with open space underneath for legs and chair. The other one can be mounted higher than usual, a blessing for taller individuals who struggle with bending. For those with vision impairments, countertop edges in a contrasting color make it easier to see where the surface ends. Finally, opt for single-handle lever-style or touch-free sensor faucets at the sink for effortless use.
Rocker light switches are easy for everyone to use and can be activated even with an elbow bump. Similarly, lever door handles simplify access and D-shaped drawer and cabinet pulls are easier to grab than knobs.
Make sure that the doorways provide a minimum of 32 inches of clear space, meaning that the door itself should be 36 inches wide. To guarantee that helpers would be able to open it easily from the outside if someone were to fall against it inside, the door should swing outwards. Within the bathroom, allow ample room for a wheelchair to maneuver. This means a 60-inch turning radius or, alternatively, a 36-by-36-inch or 30-by-48-inch space for a T-turn.
Maximize lighting throughout the bathroom, both with natural light and well-placed fixtures. The shower itself should also have its separate lighting. For added convenience and safety, consider motion-sensor lights that activate when you enter the room.
Because they get wet so often, bathroom floors can easily become a hazard. To prevent this, choose a non-slip material or a non-slip covering if you don’t plan on replacing them. Make sure to research properly, because all choices, from rubber to linoleum to hardwood to cork, come with their own sets of pros and cons.
At COOPER Design Build, we are proud to be your trusted aging-in-place remodelers. We understand the important considerations that come with planning for aging-in-place and know how to turn them into practical design solutions that allow you to remain in the home you love.
Whether your beloved home is in Goose Hollow or anywhere else in the Portland metro area, we’re here to guide you through every step of the remodeling process with care and expertise. Contact us today to start creating a home that supports your needs now and adapts to your future!