“They” say that one of the few absolutes in life is aging. Nobody really wants to do it, but everyone does it, regardless. Another absolute is that aging will bring challenges to many seniors wanting to stay in their homes, also known as aging in place. 

CBS News reports that 2024 is a record-breaking year for retirement in America, with an average of 11,000 people a day turning 65 years old between now and December. The youngest Baby Boomers recently turned 55. So, if you are feeling the effects of aging, and you do want to stay in your home, the time to start preparing is now, before you actually need it. 

Don’t underestimate the necessity of planning today for tomorrow’s challenges. AARP reported recently that more than three-quarters of adults 50 and older want to age in place, while a third of those say their homes need modifications in order for them to stay there safely and independently. Click here to see the report.

Are you hunting for the perfect age-in-place home or looking to do what takes to modify the home you’re in? Let’s take a look at what needs to be done to get your home ready for aging in place.

Stairway to heaven?

While those stairs in your house seemed like a great way to keep in better shape, they will become more hazardous and challenging as you age. 

If you live in a home with stairs, they can become a falling hazard. In fact, more than 90% of serious hip fractures are caused by falling, and many of those involve stairs.

If you must age in place in a home with stairs, adding rails to both sides makes them easier and safer.

If you are in the market for a new home in which to age in place, your best option is to find one without stairs or front steps.

Mobility aids

Bathrooms can be tough places for aging seniors. First, you don’t want to have to climb in and out of bathtubs. A walk-in shower is a better option, and there are even walk-in tubs available with special doors. 

Fix up the bathroom with safety grab bars. These can be used next to the toilet, or attached to the walls in tub and shower areas. These bars are one type of mobility aids, which also may include:

• Tub and shower seats
• Raised toilet seats
• Motorized lift chairs 
• Stair lifts
• Wheelchairs
• Walkers
• Outside ramps
• Elevators (yes, some two-story homes have elevators for seniors)

Ease of maintenance

While you may enjoy home maintenance chores now, these chores become more challenging as you age, and they may even become risky. Do you want to be hopping up and down a ladder to clean out your gutters in your 70s or 80s? How about shoveling snow? 

For these reasons, many seniors downsize their homes and move into condos or townhomes. 

Home Owners Associations (HOAs) will handle most maintenance needs. There are 55+ HOA communities with the added benefit of peace and quiet.

If you’re looking for HOAs in your area that handle maintenance, your realtor can help your find just what you’re looking for.

One important consideration for seniors is a walkable neighborhood or proximity to transportation services. Statistics show that people live at least 7 – 10 years past their ability to drive. Many senior communities are dedicated to creating walkable neighborhoods. Walkscore.com rates neighborhoods by walkability, and it’s a great tool when shopping for HOA living. Look for a walk score of 70 or higher and nearby supermarkets and restaurants within walking distance.

Are HOAs worth the cost? Click here to learn more.

Playing it smart

Remember the commercial? Clap on, clap off, the Clapper!

For the younger folks, controlling your lights with a clap of your hands is a novelty (or a sign of laziness), but to an octogenarian, it makes life easier. While the Clapper is quite low-tech, there is a growing field of smart tech that can help seniors age more gracefully at home.

For starters, how about a stove that can ring your phone when dinner is ready so you don’t forget about it, or if your hearing is too compromised to hear the buzzer?

Here some other smart ideas:

• Smart door locks that can open with voice activation, fingerprint, or even retinal scan, depending upon how much you want to pay. Forgetful seniors won’t get locked out by leaving their keys inside.
• Voice controlled washing machines
• Dishwashers that alert your phone when dishes are done or if the unit is leaking
• Motion sensor lighting that turns lights on and off when you enter and leave a room

A slippery slope

Don’t overlook floors when planning for aging in place. Tile or smooth wood floors become slippery when wet, and a fall on these surfaces can lead to serious injury. Replacing tile or wood floors can be very costly, but there’s a simple, safe way to prevent slips, using a slip-resistant floor treatment.

Slip Doctors has products for marble, tile, wood, and more. An easily applied treatment creates and “invisible tread” to make any floor safer for seniors.

Now even floors are smart!

Even with the best prevention, we can’t always prevent falls. Satech, Inc. makes SmartCells® cushioning solutions, which lessen the impact force of falls and preventing serious injuries. SmartCells® flooring can be installed throughout the house on top of existing flooring. Click to learn more.

The time is now

If you are entering your senior years, you may decide you want to stay in your home and age in place. As mentioned earlier, the time to prepare is now, not when you’ll need modifications in a hurry.

Buying or selling a home in Western North Carolina?

Avoid unpleasant surprises! Contact Asheville Home Inspector Peter Young before signing any contracts. Call (828) 808-4980, or click here to make an appointment.

The post As Seniors prepare for their “golden years,” many consider staying in their own homes appeared first on Peter Young Home Inspections.

Start planning now for Asheville aging in place.

The influx of new residents in moving to Asheville and surrounding areas of Western North Carolina includes a sizeable population of “baby boomers.” With this age group approaching senior citizen status, we thought we should take a look at the process of Asheville aging in place.

According to U.S. Census statistics, the majority of seniors aged 65 and older live at home, either with a spouse, or alone. In 2000 approximately 35 million Americans were over 65. By the year 2030 the number is expected to be more than double, representing almost 20% of the entire U.S. population. For many people, their quality of life declines as they get older. That’s why it’s important to design and implement an aging in place plan early and implement it over time, rather than wait for a time of pressing need.

What is aging in place? Beyond being a popular new catchphrase, it’s the term used to describe people who choose to stay in their own homes, for as long as they are able, during their senior years. It’s important to understand that aging in place is part of a balancing act in which elderly people can maintain their chosen quality of life and have many of their needs met, without the need to move into assisted living facilities or nursing homes. Here it’s important to make the distinction about what aging in place is not. It isn’t a cure-all for the many issues of aging. It is a system of maintaining a lifestyle that has been planned. Therefore, planning is a critical component of aging in place.

Aging brings changes

Our bodies undergo changes with aging.

Changes in our bodies as we age underscore the need for advanced planning for aging in place. Here are some changes people may experience with aging.

• Decreased muscle strength/endurance
• Reduced or impaired mental capacities
• Decreased vision
• Hearing loss
• Increased risk of falls
• Increased susceptibility to illness
• Decreased mobility

These changes can impact a person’s activities of daily living, such as:

• Mobility in the home
• Hygiene (bathing/showering)
• Home maintenance/upkeep
• Driving and transportation
• Socializing
• Ensuring adequate nutrition, and more

Setting up your home

Asheville aging in place requires numerous choices. One of the most important is how you want your home to be set up to accommodate your changing needs. Here are some suggestions for your home to make aging in place easier. This list is by no means complete.

Appliances

• Install a microwave oven in the wall or on a countertop
• Use a side-by-side refrigerator/freezer to lessen the need for bending down
• Use a side-swing or wall mounted oven
• Install a pull-out spray faucet in the kitchen
• Put the washer and dryer on pedestals and use front-loading models
• Install a raised dishwasher with push-button controls
• Install induction cooktop stoves to lessen the risk of burns

Bathrooms

• 

  Walk-in tub with seat and swinging door. Photo by American Standard

  Put a fold-down seat in the shower

• Install an adjustable shower head with a six-foot hose
• Be sure there is a light on the ceiling in the shower stall
• Reinforce the walls around the tub, shower, and toilet for installation of grab bars
• Make sure the shower in the main bathroom is curbless and wide
• Put in a high toilet or one that is height adjustable
• Use toilet paper holders that can be changed with one hand
• Use slip-resistant flooring in the bathroom, tub, and shower
• Be sure there is a wheelchair accessible full bath on the main level
• If the budget will allow, bathtubs with built in seats and swinging doors can be installed

Bedrooms

• A main floor bedroom should include a master bath and laundry facilities
• Install a tall enough bed that kneeling is minimized
• Be sure the doors to the bedroom and master bath are wheelchair accessible, and be sure there is plenty of turnaround room for a wheelchair
• Keep the floor free of area rugs and tripping hazards
• Build in adequate windows for natural lighting
• Light switches should be accessible and easy to operate

Floor Plan

• If the home has more than one story, be sure there is a wheelchair accessible bedroom and bathroom on the bottom level
• Hallways should be wide, well-lit, and free of area rugs and floor runners
• No steps between rooms on the main level

Some considerations

Don’t wait. Begin remodeling before a crisis.

If you are considering aging in place, discuss it with your family members. Would you want to downsize to a smaller house, or do you plan to stay in your longtime family home?

If you are still in your best earning years, start paying for the costlier home projects now. This may include roof assessment/replacement, upgrading or replacing your water heater, septic tank inspection and repair (if necessary), and switching to a riding lawn mower.

Now is the time to begin remodeling your home, not after your mobility becomes limited. Make your home age-friendly as part of a long-term, budgeted plan, rather than waiting for a crisis.

With proper planning Asheville aging in place can help you stay in your home for many more years to come.

Buying or selling a home?

Don’t sign on the dotted line without calling Asheville home inspector Peter Young. Click the link below to make an appointment.

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