Building to age in place!
9 out of 10 people want to age in place. Aging in your current home introduces the notion of universal design, which accommodates for the present “you” and the “you” of the future. The whole idea behind aging in place allows for elderly couples to negate assisted living, moving in with their children and other assisted living options.
Keep your sense of freedom, home, and stay comfortable by building a home yourself and aging in place. The following design guidelines should be modified to fit the person’s individual needs.
Open concept
Open floor plans are a great and common option for aging in place. Fewer obstructions allow for homeowners to travel from one room to the next without problems. At Homestead Homes, we offer several different kinds of open concept homes that are Ranch style!
Ranch style home plans eliminate staircases, which can pose a significant challenge for those hoping to age in place. When building a home yourself, our company offers home plans with smaller square footage to save money and minimize maintenance as you age.
Lighting
A common part of aging is coping with vision impairments and low vision. Make sure your home has plenty of natural lighting; an open-concept home can easily allow for better visibility.
Also, additional lighting underneath cabinets and around outlets makes seeing in the dark easier, convenient, and safer.
Bathroom
A survey from the National Association of Home Builders found that the most common aging in place modifications include bathroom grab bars, higher toilets, and curbless showers.
The National Association of Home Builders suggest that a bathroom made for aging in place has the following universal design plans in mind:
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Wall support
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Lower cabinets
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One wheelchair bathtub with the ability for a T-turn
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Installation of grab bars that can hold up to 300 pounds
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A fold down seat in the shower
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A light in the shower
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Slip resistant flooring
The bathroom can be a dangerous place for someone who is older! With these accommodations and design plans when building a home yourself, you can easily add these ideas to your home plan!
Kitchen
When building a home yourself, keep in mind a universal design concept for the kitchen area. First, make sure the kitchen is part of your open concept design plan. Second, vary the countertop height between 32 to 42 inches, accomodating for height changes in the future. Lastly, add more, easily accessible storage with pull out shelves. A pantry with tall shelving is great now, but will it be best for aging in place?
These are the main areas of concern for those who want to age in place! This kind of living is achievable with the right home plans and designs. At Homestead Homes, our design team will help you create the best home for now and to age in place.
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