Simple renovations to help age in place

Not everyone can afford a renovation, however there are some simple ways to get the biggest bang for your buck.

Posted 10:00 a.m. Aug 29, 2019 — Updated 10:00 a.m. Aug 29, 2019

Valerie Jurik-Henry

Being engaged in housing and healthcare for over 25 years, I’ve learned to pay attention to people and their concerns within their home. Most every time without fail, I hear a story from people about not wanting to go up steps anymore, not wanting to climb in and out of the bathtub,

not being able to reach items in the upper kitchen cabinets and so on.

When buying a home, wanting to stay in our existing home, or building new construction, we tend to think about a home design that works for us today. But what are all the design options that are available to work for our future self?

What can you do to make your current home ageless? There are many ways to remodel your home using a contractor that understands Aging In Place and understands your wants and desires. But what’s important, and what most standard contractors won’t put into the plan, is a design for your future self — a design that works for you today and in 10 years. You can find

certified aging in place contractors in your area by visiting the National Association of Home Builders site. Type in your state and city. You’ll see contractors listed and the word “more” on the bottom. Click on “more,” and you can see if they have are a certified aging in place specialist (or CAPS).

Not everyone can afford a renovation. Below are some ways to get the biggest bang for your buck. Some are “do it yourself” jobs and others require a professional.

Offset Hinges - This product has saved my clients so much money! It makes your door wider, giving you almost 2” of more space to enter. (Click on the link to see a short video showing it in use.)
Bathtub CutOut – Don’t like climbing in and out of the tub but you find a walk-in shower remodel to expensive? This product is installed in 1 day! (Click on the video to see how it’s done.) Also, this product comes with an optional door in case you still want to use the bathtub. You can find a local dealer near you online.
Stair Lighting – Go online and type in “Stair Lighting.” A lot of pictures will pop up with well-lit staircases. Overall, you can buy lights that adhere to your wall. No wires needed because they use batteries. As you approach the light, it turns itself on. As you pass, it turns itself off. A well-lit staircase is great for adults, children, and pets.
Install a Bathroom Heat Lamp - It can take some people longer to get in and out of the tub and take care of everything they need to do in the bathroom. Replacing the overhead light fixture above the toilet and tub with one that has an infrared bulb as well as a regular bulb will help keep their bathroom warm and comfortable in the winter months.
Replace Your Faucets - Touchless faucets on kitchen and bathroom sinks are great for people with arthritis or grip issues. You can also replace twist faucet handles with levers. Anti-scald faucets prevent sudden bursts of hot water if the cold water is temporarily redirected. Another

way to prevent scalding is to lower the maximum water temperature on your water heater to 120 degrees or less.

Valerie is the creator of The Ageless Home™, a professional national speaker on Aging In Place, Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS), author, REALTOR, entrepreneur, and business advisor.

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