Embrace Your Future with a Design for Aging in Place
By McDaniels Kitchens and Bath|Kitchen Design
Designing for aging in place has become more popular than ever. This trend reflects an aging population of homeowners and a growing desire among these homeowners to age safely without having to move. According to the AARP’s 2021 Home and Community Preferences survey, 77% of adults 50 and older wish to remain in their homes as they age. This number has remained relatively consistent and shows no signs of diminishing, which means aging-in-place designs will remain a popular requirement in the years to come.
Thankfully this trend coincides with design innovations that enable homeowners to make their living spaces safer while also enhancing their home’s style. Today’s safety features blend neatly with the home’s aesthetic and give any room a polished style. From accessible kitchen storage to thresholdless showers, let’s explore some of the top design features sought out by homeowners for aging in place.
Why Is Designing for Aging in Place Important?
Aging in places design concepts let you create a home environment to accommodate the needs of your household, whether you live in a multi-generational household or are creating a future-proofed design for your own needs as you age. This allows you to live independently in your home by incorporating design concepts and features that address changes in mobility as well as sensory and cognitive differences associated with aging.
It has become a popular choice for aging households as many people would prefer to remain in their homes in familiar surroundings instead of moving to an assisted living facility. By doing this, you can stay in a home where you may have an emotional attachment and in a neighborhood that you are familiar with. It offers seniors greater autonomy and fosters a sense of confidence. It also eliminates the stress of packing and moving to a new home, often ranked as one of the most stressful life changes.
Remodeling your home to support aging-in-place is also often a more cost-effective solution than buying an over-55 home or relocating to an assisted living facility. By deciding to proactively remodel your home to support aging-in-place, you can age with confidence and ensure a higher quality of life for longer in your own home.
What Are the Top Reasons for Designing for Aging in Place?
When creating designs geared toward aging-in-place, you must consider the needs of your household not just today, but for the lifespan of this home remodel. This means examining who will be living in your home during that time and what their health and mobility needs are likely to be. If you are designing for your current needs or futureproofing to age in your existing home, you can choose universal design principles that fit a range of mobility needs, meaning they will suit your lifestyle today and into the future.
There are many reasons why designs for aging-in-place homes are critical to creating a safe and enjoyable home environment. These include:
- Mobility: Design features that address mobility issues due to arthritis, balance problems, and reduced strength are some of the top areas of concern for aging homeowners and can be easily addressed with modifications to your home’s layout and fixtures.
- Sensory: Sensory changes such as reduced vision, hearing, and tactile sensitivity can make home life more challenging and can be addressed through more accessible kitchen and bath design concepts.
- Independence: Creating a home environment geared to your needs will improve your independence and confidence at home. It also allows you to remain in a home and community where you are familiar with your surroundings.
- Safety: Addressing safety concerns in the home environment will give you and your family members peace of mind, knowing that you are living in a safe and comfortable home.
Let’s Explore Some Essential Modifications for Aging in Place
Once you decide that an aging-in-place design is right for your home and lifestyle, it’s time to explore which modifications you should make. Start by working with an experienced kitchen and bath designer who is certified with CAPS (Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist).
Together with your designer, create a home safety checklist. This allows you to identify and address potential hazards in your home, giving you a starting point for identifying key changes you need to make to create a safer environment. The final design for your home should balance style with functionality and will vary depending on your available space, household, style preferences, and budget.
When designing a home for aging in place, homeowners often focus on first-floor layouts that can support all their needs. This includes creating a full bathroom on the first floor with a walk-in shower. It also means having a room that will be used as a first-floor bedroom. Even if you don’t need a first-floor bedroom now, identify a room, such as your home office, that could be easily converted in the future. Upstairs bedrooms could then be used as spare rooms for visitors or live-in help.
Here are some of the key remodeling changes to consider for an aging-in-place home design:
Accessible entryways – Change your doorways to wider doors with step-free entryways that allow you to safely enter and exit your home, even with a mobility aid. Install lever handles instead of knobs, which are much easier to operate with reduced mobility and strength. Prioritize adequate lighting and non-slip surfaces to minimize any hazards when moving through entryways.
Bathroom safety and accessibility – A walk-in shower must be a top priority for a bathroom designed for aging-in-place. It should preferably provide a large enough space that allows you to comfortably move around with a mobility aid or for another person to assist with showering. Shower seats or a bench with arms and a back within reach of the shower controls, grab bars, and non-slip flooring make showering a breeze while limiting the risk of a fall. Go for an open shower style, or install an alternative door like a barn sliding door that minimizes space constraints and makes access easier. Include a handheld showerhead and prioritize easy-to-grasp controls.
Comfort-height toilets, accessible sinks, good lighting, and lever handles all make using the bathroom safer and easier for anyone. Balance style with functionality by selecting designer grab bars in essential places like the shower and near the toilet, with finishes that match your other design features. A floating vanity 9” off the floor is an ideal option as it can accommodate walker wheels, and sleek modern cabinetry is both easy to use and to clean. Enhance contrast in your design with combinations like a dark floor and white baseboards to help prevent tripping. All these features are available in stylish, quality materials and finishes that give you a bathroom as stylish as it is functional.
Kitchen modifications – Many simple modifications can be seamlessly integrated into a stylish kitchen design to make it safer and easier to navigate. Efficient workspaces and customized, easy-to-use storage are key. Start with an efficient layout with work zones that are simple to reach and to move between.
Create customized storage solutions that bring items to you and make it easier to access what you need, like pull-outs and rollout shelves. Prioritize drawer storage with custom inserts like drawer dividers and peg systems. If you love to bake or use other heavy countertop appliances, consider a mixer lift or an appliance garage to store these items. For wall cabinets, include pull-down shelves. You could also install hands-free cabinets with push-open doors or go for cabinet handles instead of knobs as they are easier to grasp.
Easy-to-reach and operate appliances will help users of all ages to function more efficiently in the kitchen. Microwave, refrigerator, and freezer drawers minimize the strain on your back and eyesight when searching for key ingredients. Make moving around the kitchen safer with adequate lighting and wide pathways.
Other spaces – Every space in your home will benefit from assessing your needs for aging in place and making changes to accommodate your requirements. Focus on open plan living spaces with clear walkways that are easy to navigate, combined with plenty of lighting and non-slip flooring. This helps to make moving around your house as safe as possible. Include closet organization with easy-to-reach storage, such as a custom master closet design, hall closet, or linen closet. Finish off your space with adjustable furniture, supportive seating, and a comfortable bed height to make home life safer and more enjoyable.
Putting Technology to Work for Aging in Place
Technology is part of everyday life, from smartphones to integrated home entertainment systems. When it comes to designing for aging-in-place technology plays a role in making your home safer and easier to navigate. The interconnected devices that can help make your home safer include everything from automated window shades to security cameras, video doorbells, voice-activated lights, smart appliances, and much more.
Here are a few ideas for how to put technology to work for your home design:
- Smart lighting and temperature controls let you easily turn lights and the thermostat on and off using an app, voice controls, or automated settings. Motion sensor lights in certain areas of the home such as the master bathroom mean the lights will come on automatically without fumbling for switches.
- Smart faucets can use motion sensors or voice-activated controls making it much easier to turn the faucet on and off when you have limited mobility. Color-changing LEDs indicate the temperature of the water so you avoid scalding yourself.
- Integrated smart home devices, video doorbells, and other devices let you monitor who is coming to your door, use voice-activated controls to check the weather and make phone calls, schedule reminders to take medication, and much more.
Design for Your Future
Creating a design for your home that supports aging in place is a smart choice. If you love your home and neighborhood, you can create a safe, comfortable, and stylish environment that lets you remain in the home you know as you age.
Consider your needs and anticipate changing needs over the lifespan of the remodel, for example, potential changes in mobility, sensory impairment, and cognitive abilities. Build flexibility into your design to accommodate different family members, generations, and caregivers.
Choose to work with a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) designer, who will ensure you can create spaces that remain safe and enjoyable as you age, with a focus on mobility and accessibility. Contact our team to learn more!
