Want to make sure you retire gracefully? Making a few simple design choices now will help you live comfortably in your home for decades to come. A retirement-friendly home doesn’t have to mean sacrificing good looks. The smallest touches can mean the biggest difference when finding the best options to serve your functional and style needs during the golden years.
Here are design features to consider to prepare for the challenges that aging will bring.
- Open Floor Plans
Dining room and kitchen in bright modern home with open floor plan.
Removing walls between the living and dining rooms, kitchen, family room, and hallways allows for easy maneuvering and good visibility. Open floor plans make a house feel bigger and more comfortable, and makes the space easier to navigate, especially for those in wheelchairs. With more space for natural light to come in, family members can easily keep a close watch on elderly relatives.
Have the master’s bedroom on the ground floor so it won’t be necessary to go up and down a flight of stairs many times.
- Bright, Functional Lighting
Excellent day, night, and task lighting help seniors adjust and avoid trips, falls, and injuries. Your eyesight might grow weaker as the years go by, so it’s best to ensure that bright light is always available. Illuminate entrances and hallways to lessen the risk of tripping and bumping into things. Easy switches and illumination controls will also help maintain uniform lighting from room to room. Go for LED bulbs for more energy-efficient lighting.
- Wide Doorways and Hallways
Doorways and hallways must be wide enough to allow wheelchair access and make your home feel more spacious. Doorways should be at least 32 inches wide, while hallways should be at least 36 inches wide.
- Lever-style Doorknobs and Senior Friendly Handles
Lever handles on all exterior and interior doors help the elderly open and close doors with ease. They’re easier to grab and manipulate if you’re carrying a load of groceries or laundry—or if you have unstable hands. Lever-style faucets have also become the norm for kitchens and showers because they’re attractive and easier to work with than knobs.
- Multi-level Counters and Pull-out and Pull-down Shelving
Kitchen counter tops should not be too high or too low – having a range of heights enables people to work efficiently and comfortably. Include some counters at standard height or 36 inches, some at breakfast bar height or 42 inches, and others at table height or 30 inches with enough knee space for sitting. This way, you’ll have more options for prepping or cooking while standing or seated, all without requiring you to bend over.
Deep shelving units are especially difficult for older people to use. Pull-out cabinet inserts make it hassle free for anyone to get needed items from storage. Cabinets should also not be so high that they require stepping on a stool to reach.
- Non-slip, Non-trip Showers
The elderly are prone to major tripping hazards so walk-in showers are best suited for them. Prevent from falling by making sure that glass doors go all the way to the floor, with no curb to step over. Level the bathroom floors and include slip-resistant surfaces. Add grab bars in the shower, by the toilet, and by the bathtub. Shower seats can come in handy at any age – but most especially as standing begins to become difficult. The bathroom space should also be wide enough to allow wheelchair access and movement.
- Higher Electrical Outlets, Lower Electrical Switches
Electricians usually install outlets 12 to 18 inches off the floor. That’s not suited for the aged because it requires one to bend or kneel down a lot to plug in appliances. To avoid hurting the knees and back, make sure to have the outlets placed at least 24 inches from the floor for easier access. As for electrical switches, have them at just the right height for adults to easily reach.
Make designing your home the most exciting part of retirement planning. The earlier you start, the better. The ideal abode should have features and amenities that will make you feel safe, comfortable, and secure even as your needs change through time.
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