Redesign Ideas to Grow Old With
Redesign Ideas to Grow Old With
A home can be comfortable and functional, even well into retirement. A recent study found that 36 percent of respondents would rather stay put in their current residence in retirement, instead of moving, because they felt a strong connection to their home and their neighborhood, and had relatives and friends living in the area.
"It is really hard to accept that we are all getting older and less able to do what we used to do, but these types of changes can make living into your golden years easier and more enjoyable," says Julia Caswell Daitch, principal architect of Caswell Daitch Architects in Silver Spring, Md. "And it can even extend your age by seamlessly making that transition, with peace of mind, in your beloved home."
The baby boomer population is expected to climb to 73 million by 2030, and affordable housing inventory for this group is getting harder to find. Often it makes more economic sense for this population to adapt their current housing situation rather than move. In fact, remodeling a current home to make it more accessible for a disability or reduced mobility is often more cost-effective than going to an assisted living facility, reports The Washington Post.
Here are some redesign ideas for proactively adapting a home for these life changes.
- Elderly friendly adjustments: When changing a home to fit mobility and accessibility challenges, first look into widening doorways and making bathrooms and kitchens more elderly friendly.
- First-floor master suites: The challenge of transforming comfortable living space on the first floor is common, whether it's for an aging home owner, or what is becoming more common, having members of the extended family move in. For families inviting family members into their home, privacy is the number one concern. Caswell Daitch suggests creating obvious separation spaces. In a recent project, a two-story foyer was created as an entry to the home, thus making two separate but equal living spaces.
- Adding an elevator: Installing an elevator into an existing home is already a growing trend, and not just for the ultra rich. Putting in an elevator early solves mobility issues and makes it easy for aging owners to continue to enjoy their entire living space. "Installing an elevator can cost anywhere from $35,000 to $80,000, but, compared to the rising costs of health care and assisted-living facilities, it can be a great investment," says Caswell Daitch. "My advice is to install the elevator, or do a lot of these types of changes, before you really need them. That way you can enjoy them as long as possible, as you age gracefully or when you find a sudden need. The last thing you want to worry about when dealing with a mobility crisis is modifying your home."
Source: "Redesign ideas you can do now to meet your needs as you get older," Washington Post (June 15, 2015)
A home can be comfortable and functional, even well into retirement. A recent study found that 36 percent of respondents would rather stay put in their current residence in retirement, instead of moving, because they felt a strong connection to their home and their neighborhood, and had relatives and friends living in the area.
"It is really hard to accept that we are all getting older and less able to do what we used to do, but these types of changes can make living into your golden years easier and more enjoyable," says Julia Caswell Daitch, principal architect of Caswell Daitch Architects in Silver Spring, Md. "And it can even extend your age by seamlessly making that transition, with peace of mind, in your beloved home."
The baby boomer population is expected to climb to 73 million by 2030, and affordable housing inventory for this group is getting harder to find. Often it makes more economic sense for this population to adapt their current housing situation rather than move. In fact, remodeling a current home to make it more accessible for a disability or reduced mobility is often more cost-effective than going to an assisted living facility, reports The Washington Post.
Here are some redesign ideas for proactively adapting a home for these life changes.
- Elderly friendly adjustments: When changing a home to fit mobility and accessibility challenges, first look into widening doorways and making bathrooms and kitchens more elderly friendly.
- First-floor master suites: The challenge of transforming comfortable living space on the first floor is common, whether it's for an aging home owner, or what is becoming more common, having members of the extended family move in. For families inviting family members into their home, privacy is the number one concern. Caswell Daitch suggests creating obvious separation spaces. In a recent project, a two-story foyer was created as an entry to the home, thus making two separate but equal living spaces.
- Adding an elevator: Installing an elevator into an existing home is already a growing trend, and not just for the ultra rich. Putting in an elevator early solves mobility issues and makes it easy for aging owners to continue to enjoy their entire living space. "Installing an elevator can cost anywhere from $35,000 to $80,000, but, compared to the rising costs of health care and assisted-living facilities, it can be a great investment," says Caswell Daitch. "My advice is to install the elevator, or do a lot of these types of changes, before you really need them. That way you can enjoy them as long as possible, as you age gracefully or when you find a sudden need. The last thing you want to worry about when dealing with a mobility crisis is modifying your home."
Source: "Redesign ideas you can do now to meet your needs as you get older," Washington Post (June 15, 2015)
