More and more, seniors are opting to improve their houses to make them extra accessible moderately than coming into retirement amenities. In line with AARP, in 2021, 77% of adults over 50 would like to age in place if that they had the selection. Growing older in place could make extra monetary sense for some seniors as a result of rising prices of assisted residing care.

 A latest Price of Care Survey from Genworth Monetary discovered that the nationwide median month-to-month value of assisted residing is about $5,350. Alternatively, dwelling modifications can vary from very inexpensive smaller initiatives to larger-scale renovations. Listed below are 10 upgrades seniors are making to their houses in lieu of retirement amenities. 

1. Upgrading Bogs

The most typical upgrades seniors are making to their houses are lavatory updates. Renovations could embrace putting in walk-in showers or tubs, handheld bathe heads, seize bars, bathe seats, and raised bogs. 

Retrofitting loos has turn out to be very straightforward and extra inexpensive. Many installers can accomplish this undertaking in a day with no permits concerned. These upgrades enable seniors further security of their loos, the place accidents are more likely to occur. 

2. Incorporating Further Lighting

Most slips and falls happen at evening due to decreased visibility. To fight this, seniors are including further lighting with straightforward rocker switches or movement sensors. Spotlights are additionally essential in closely used areas just like the kitchen. 

3. Investing In Good Residence Know-how

Good expertise may give seniors an additional degree of safety of their houses. Safety methods like Ring are straightforward to make use of and are managed by an app. Many seniors are additionally including methods that regulate their thermostats, flip off plugs or the range, warn you when a door is opened, and activate lights. Moreover, some methods might be useful in an emergency by alerting emergency companies and family members.

4. Shopping for New Furnishings

Not solely are structural enhancements crucial, however seniors are additionally contemplating how their furnishings might help them age in place. Ergonomic furnishings might be helpful if seniors expertise mobility points down the road. 

Many seniors are additionally contemplating if their furnishings layouts could have further area for transferring round and, due to this fact, are choosing much less cumbersome furnishings with fewer sharp edges. 

5. Transferring The Major Bed room to The First Stage

Seniors are additionally reconsidering the tales of their houses and making crucial changes, comparable to transferring their main bed room to the primary ground or including a rest room on the principle degree to keep away from stairs. If transferring their bed room to the primary ground isn’t attainable, seniors also can add stair lifts for elevated accessibility. Stair lifts can usually value between $4,000 and $8,000. 

6. Changing Slippery Flooring

Slips and falls are the main reason for damage to seniors who select to age in place. Many seniors are altering their flooring to keep away from this, particularly if they’ve slippery tile or hardwood flooring. A low and dense pile carpet is the only option for extra traction. 

7. Including Out of doors Ramps and Handrails

Accessibility exterior the house is a vital enchancment for seniors. Including a ramp and handrails provides seniors peace of thoughts that they will simply come and go from their houses. The typical value of a ramp ranges from $1,300 to $4,000.

8. Modifying Kitchen Design

Cuts and burns are the second commonest kind of damage to seniors within the dwelling after falls. To assist keep away from this, seniors are modifying their kitchens by reducing counter tops and rounding counter edges. 

One other straightforward repair is swapping out drawer and cupboard pulls for wider pulls with comfortable ergonomic shapes, making them simpler to know. Mushy-close cupboards and drawers are additionally straightforward additions. Altering out broad basin sinks for one thing shallower can be a good suggestion to keep away from an excessive amount of bending over. Most hands-free sinks even have anti-scald units. It could even be helpful to widen the kitchen’s footprint for further accessibility. 

9. Swapping Spherical Door Knobs for Lever Handles

A very simple swap that seniors are making is changing spherical door handles round the home with lever handles. These handles are a lot simpler to grip, particularly for these with arthritis. 

10. Repurposing Rooms for Hobbies

Seniors are additionally updating their houses to accommodate how they wish to spend their golden years. For some seniors, this implies upgrading an grownup baby’s outdated room to an artwork studio or cozy library. 

Offset the Price of Residence Upgrades

Upgrading your house to be able to age in place as a substitute of transferring right into a retirement facility doesn’t must be a frightening endeavor. By specializing in these 10 commonest upgrades seniors are making to their houses, you may keep in your area it doesn’t matter what your wants may be sooner or later. 

Whereas these initiatives vary in value, some could also be coated by insurance coverage or be tax deductible. This financial help might help you offset the prices related to getting old in place.

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Teri Monroe began her profession in communications working for native authorities and nonprofits. Immediately, she is a contract finance and life-style author and small enterprise proprietor. In her spare time, she loves {golfing} together with her husband, taking her canine Milo on lengthy walks, and taking part in pickleball with buddies.