Reworking Home and Life for Aging in Place

Are you considering a remodel of your home to accommodate your specific needs as you get older? Have you decided that it’s best to age in place—regardless of the cost of remodeling—instead of moving to an assisted living or nursing care facility? If so, there are many things to consider before you start calling contractors. Here is a short list of what you need to think about before you remodel your existing home for your senior years.

The first things to consider are the physical changes that need to be made to your home. These are senior-friendly features such as walk-in tubs or showers, grab bars or handrails, nonslip mats throughout the house, wider doorways for future walker or wheelchair use, extra lighting in dark spaces, first-story living, and so on. You also have to consider if there will be a need for additional living areas inside or outside of the home for family members or extra people in case of multi-generational or live-in caretakers. If all this seems overwhelming, you can seek out certified aging-in-place specialists through the National Association of Home Builders who are specifically trained in planning and developing the best living spaces for those wanting to age in place. They can help you create the best living environment for you and your situation.

After you understand the physical space and the changes needed throughout, you can start thinking about what other kinds of products and services might help you age in place. Current technology has given the elderly a new lease on life. There are wearables such as Apple watches or Fitbits that can monitor your heartbeat, pulse, and temperature as well as how much exercise or sleep you are getting. There are also wearable technology options such as medical alert systems that allow you to get help immediately with a touch of a button or through voice activation in case of emergencies. (These are essential devices if you intend to live alone as you age in place.)

Other interactive devices can give you information or reminders as well. You can set alarms on interactive assistive devices such as Alexa and Siri, as well as ask about current events, weather reports, current time, and upcoming holidays. You can even program these devices to call 911 or a family member in the case of an emergency. Technology has also allowed vital services such as Uber, Uber Eats or Door Dash food delivery, electronic prescription services, and grocery shopping services such as Instacart. All of these services have helped seniors age in place longer by providing much needed assistance in ride-sharing, meal delivery, and grocery and other item delivery.

Another aspect to remodeling and improving your life as you age is the social aspect. Spending time with friends and family as well as being involved with hobbies and local activities helps keep your brain and body active, as well as keeping you engaged with your community. This happens by using both the electronic means and the in-person social means available to you in your city or town. Electronic resources include social media, cell phones, and video-sharing sites such as FaceTime and Zoom allow you to virtually connect with friends and family. In-person resources such as senior centers, local libraries, and exercise classes geared toward seniors give you plenty of opportunities to stay social, keep active, and participate in fun activities.

In terms of your medical needs as you grow older, there is now a robust and strong home health care industry available at your fingertips for any nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, or mental health resources needed. Not only can home health care nurses and technicians come to your house to provide health care and personal care, you also now have the option of visiting with your health care providers through telemedicine and having the option of remote monitoring if needed. Medical devices such as pacemakers can now be scanned at home and the readings sent electronically right to your cardiologist, for instance. Many different kinds of conditions can be monitored over the internet and through phone calls and website portals these days. The growing prevalence of electronic health records that can be universally accessed by any medical provider has also met a great need that seniors have.

You also want to explore issues such as elder law and the financial aspects of remodeling as you age in place. Elder law is a branch of the legal system that concentrates solely on issues that affect the elderly. This could mean helping an elderly person be financially secure as they age or creating legal documents to address any long-term health care decisions. Elder law differs from estate planning in that it seeks to preserve the person’s income and assets for them to use while they are still alive (estate planning has more to do with how you want your assets to be distributed after you die). Consulting with someone who is familiar with elder law can help you evaluate your financial needs against your remodeling plans to age in place and come up with a solvent way to fund the remodeling projects.

In conclusion, remodeling your home and life to better age in place is a wise and worthwhile endeavor for you and your family. If you do your research and plan it right, your home will be comfortable, safe, and well designed for many years to come.