More and more, seniors are opting to improve their properties to make them extra accessible moderately than getting into retirement services. Based on AARP, in 2021, 77% of adults over 50 would favor to age in place if that they had the selection. Getting old in place could make extra monetary sense for some seniors because of the rising prices of assisted dwelling care.

 A latest Price of Care Survey from Genworth Monetary discovered that the nationwide median month-to-month price of assisted dwelling is about $5,350. Alternatively, dwelling modifications can vary from very inexpensive smaller tasks to larger-scale renovations. Listed below are 10 upgrades seniors are making to their properties in lieu of retirement services. 

1. Upgrading Bogs

The most typical upgrades seniors are making to their properties are lavatory updates. Renovations could embody putting in walk-in showers or tubs, handheld bathe heads, seize bars, bathe seats, and raised bogs. 

Retrofitting loos has develop into very simple and extra inexpensive. Many installers can accomplish this undertaking in a day with no permits concerned. These upgrades enable seniors additional security of their loos, the place accidents are more likely to occur. 

2. Incorporating Further Lighting

Most slips and falls happen at evening due to decreased visibility. To fight this, seniors are including extra lighting with simple rocker switches or movement sensors. Spotlights are additionally essential in closely used areas just like the kitchen. 

3. Investing In Good Residence Expertise

Good know-how may give seniors an additional degree of safety of their properties. Safety techniques like Ring are simple to make use of and are managed by an app. Many seniors are additionally including techniques that regulate their thermostats, flip off plugs or the range, provide you with a warning when a door is opened, and activate lights. Moreover, some techniques might be useful in an emergency by alerting emergency companies and family members.

4. Shopping for New Furnishings

Not solely are structural enhancements obligatory, however seniors are additionally contemplating how their furnishings may help them age in place. Ergonomic furnishings might be useful if seniors expertise mobility points down the road. 

Many seniors are additionally contemplating if their furnishings layouts may have additional house for shifting round and, due to this fact, are choosing much less cumbersome furnishings with fewer sharp edges. 

5. Transferring The Main Bed room to The First Stage

Seniors are additionally reconsidering the tales of their properties and making obligatory changes, akin to shifting their main bed room to the primary ground or including a rest room on the primary degree to keep away from stairs. If shifting their bed room to the primary ground isn’t doable, seniors can even add stair lifts for elevated accessibility. Stair lifts can usually price between $4,000 and $8,000. 

6. Changing Slippery Flooring

Slips and falls are the main reason for damage to seniors who select to age in place. Many seniors are altering their flooring to keep away from this, particularly if they’ve slippery tile or hardwood flooring. A low and dense pile carpet is the only option for added traction. 

7. Including Outside Ramps and Handrails

Accessibility outdoors the house is an important enchancment for seniors. Including a ramp and handrails offers seniors peace of thoughts that they’ll simply come and go from their properties. The common price of a ramp ranges from $1,300 to $4,000.

8. Modifying Kitchen Design

Cuts and burns are the second most typical kind of damage to seniors within the dwelling after falls. To assist keep away from this, seniors are modifying their kitchens by reducing counter tops and rounding counter edges. 

One other simple repair is swapping out drawer and cupboard pulls for wider pulls with mushy ergonomic shapes, making them simpler to know. Smooth-close cupboards and drawers are additionally simple additions. Altering out vast basin sinks for one thing shallower can be a good suggestion to keep away from an excessive amount of bending over. Most hands-free sinks even have anti-scald units. It could even be useful to widen the kitchen’s footprint for additional accessibility. 

9. Swapping Spherical Door Knobs for Lever Handles

An easy swap that seniors are making is changing spherical door handles round the home with lever handles. These handles are a lot simpler to grip, particularly for these with arthritis. 

10. Repurposing Rooms for Hobbies

Seniors are additionally updating their properties to accommodate how they need to spend their golden years. For some seniors, this implies upgrading an grownup youngster’s outdated room to an artwork studio or cozy library. 

Offset the Price of Residence Upgrades

Upgrading your own home in an effort to age in place as an alternative of shifting right into a retirement facility doesn’t have to be a frightening endeavor. By specializing in these 10 most typical upgrades seniors are making to their properties, you’ll be able to keep in your house it doesn’t matter what your wants is perhaps sooner or later. 

Whereas these tasks vary in price, some could also be coated by insurance coverage or be tax deductible. This financial help may help you offset the prices related to growing older in place.

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Teri Monroe began her profession in communications working for native authorities and nonprofits. Immediately, she is a contract finance and way of life author and small enterprise proprietor. In her spare time, she loves {golfing} along with her husband, taking her canine Milo on lengthy walks, and enjoying pickleball with associates.