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There are many changes to consider when you’re updating a home to be senior friendly. From senior-friendly bathroom fixtures to kitchen conveniences, you want to do it right. Use these novel ideas to prepare your or your loved one’s home for aging in place.

Step onto a Brave New World

In a perfect world, a senior lives in a single story home with a no-rise entry or in a mansion with a functioning elevator. Most of us do not live in that perfect world. Follow the tips below to make sure your home is as safe and convenient as possible.

The pathway into many homes has cracked sidewalks and uneven surfaces. This creates danger zones. Repave and reconstruct level, smooth surfaces to for easier mobility.

• Add non-slip flooring in the entryway inside the home.
• Outside the home, add non-slip strips or scuff the surface to create improved footing.
• Repair uneven or cracked areas on the walkway toward the home
• If you can, create a no-rise entry with ramps.
• If you must have stairs, install rails on both sides of the stairs. These should be at least one-and-a-half inch in diameter to accommodate aging grips
• Increase stair visibility by using contrast strips on top and bottom stairs. Color contrast between the treads and risers on stairs

Transform entryways into safe zones for seniors.

• Multitasking is a recipe for disaster. Create an area for your bundles and packages both inside and outside your home. Use the surface when coming and going to keep your hands free and your balance high when coming and going.
• Make sure there is at least one covered entryway into the home. You want at least one area completely protected from the elements.

A room with a view makes a difference. Better lighting will keep your loved one safe.

• Increase lighting at all entry areas.
• Add motion-sensor lights focused on ramps and stairs. Also, point lighting at the front and back door locks

Build A Kitchen to Be Beloved

Aging mothers (and fathers) deserve a functional kitchen they will adore. Your goal is to increase accessibility and prevent bending and crouching. If you can improve the room’s aesthetics as well, that’s a double bonus.

First, manual dexterity decreases as we age. So make the appliances work for her, not the other way around.

• Switch to kitchen appliances with easy-to-read controls and simple-to-use push button interfaces.
• Convert to a side swing or wall oven. This will allow for easy access to the oven and make sure seniors don’t need to lift heavy items over the hot door.
• Microwave drawers are a great addition to the aging in place home. They allow for easier access and increase your countertop real estate.

Next, ensure there is easy access to the items in the pantry.

• Change to an open shelving design for easier access to frequently used items.
• Convert to glass cabinet doors so your loved one can identify items without effort.
• Use Lazy Susans and roll out trays to create increased accessibility.

Then, focus on faucets. You want to make sinks easier to use and keep safe from water burns.

• Install pressure-balanced valves to provide water at steady temperatures regardless of pressure fluctuations.
• Take the next step and set the hot water heater temperature to 120 degrees.
• Insulate any exposed hot water pipes.
• Convert to a single lever kitchen faucet and install pedal-controlled faucets for easier use.

Create a Bathroom This Side of Paradise

Safe accessible bathrooms don’t just happen. You will need to tackle the washroom to keep your loved one independent and protected at home.

Many slips and falls happen in and around the bathroom and shower area.

• Add slip-prevention flooring throughout the bathroom and shower area. Non-skid bath mats, non-slip strips in the bath and shower or stable secure bathmats with non-slip rug tape all work.
• Be careful; many cheap bathmats are not non-slip and may increase the risk of falling. Quality, sturdy products are available at your local hardware store.

Give your loved one a better grip. Well placed grab bars in the shower, tub, and next to the toilet prevent falls.

• Check them to make sure they are securely attached to the wall.
• Use U-shaped, vertical or angle bars rather than diagonal bars. Diagonal bars create hand slippage and may increase the risk of falls.
• Add back bracing to the walls where you use grab bars. Ensure you can support 250-300 pounds.

Make bath time a time for peace and quiet. For many seniors, sitting on the bath floor is hard and standing in the slippery shower is risky.

• Add a fold-down seat or bench in the shower. Some come with padded backs for extra comfort. Others will have a structure that extends outside the tub for easy bath entrance/exit
• Install hand-held, adjustable height, shower heads with a six-foot hose to direct the water where its best needed
• Home builders design showers for younger eyes. Add extra lighting in the shower stall for the senior user.

Follow these simple tips and your aging in place experience redesign will be a breeze. With less worry and more safety, you can make each day a real page-turner.

As reported by AARP, 80% of seniors have a firm plan to age in place. There are some home modifications that should be completed to make aging in place more possible for older adults, though. These modifications are a proactive approach to increasing the level of safety in the home, and they often add convenience and comfort for seniors as well. While there are sometimes high costs associated with modifying homes to enable seniors to age in place, many older adults are happy to incur these expenses to fulfill their wish to remain in their own homes.

Widen Doorways

If a senior relies on mobility aids, such as a walker or wheelchair, to navigate through her home, widening doorways is a must-have home modification. Depending on the insulation and placement of electrical switches and outlets in the home, costs vary greatly for widening doorways.

Install Ramps

Exterior stairs may be a challenge for seniors who are unsteady on stairs or who have balance issues, so installing ramps is a necessary home modification that is well worth the cost to provide greater independence. Licensed contractors are trained in building and installing ramps of the correct height and rise for seniors.

Indoor threshold ramps are also necessary home modifications for older adults who use wheelchairs. These indoor ramps provide smooth transitions from one surface to another, making it safer to navigate throughout the home. The threshold ramps often are constructed of rubber, so they’re easily adjustable to accommodate the step or door jamb height that is involved in the transition.

Kitchen Modifications

As seniors age, they may find that their appliances are no longer in ideal locations and that their countertops and cabinetry are too high, especially if they are in a wheelchair. Professional contractors may need to come in and adjust the counter height and lower the sink, to allow for easier access from a seated position. Additionally, seniors aging in place often find it easier when microwaves are placed in microwave stands, as opposed to being at the back of the counter or in raised microwave cabinets.

Shower and Bathtub Modifications

A senior opting to age in place also should consider home modifications for the bathroom, particularly the bathtub. One option is to replace the bathtub with a walk-in shower, which provides much easier (and safer) entry and exit than a bathtub. A second bathroom modification option is to replace a traditional bathtub with a walk-in tub.

If a senior wants to keep his existing bathtub, or cannot afford to replace it, there are less expensive modifications that can be made to prevent slips and falls in the bathtub. One modification is to add a safety bar to the tub, while another is to install safety strips. Both of these simple modifications can help prevent slips and falls in the bathtub.

Yet another modification for the bathtub, which is less expensive than replacing the bathtub or shower, is to purchase a bathtub transfer bench. Transfer benches straddle the side of the bathtub, enabling seniors to sit safely on the bench while getting into the tub by lifting each leg, one at a time, over the bathtub wall. Getting into the tub while seated greatly reduces the risk of dangerous slips and falls for seniors. Some seniors who cannot spare the required bathroom floor space for bathtub transfer bench legs opt for bathtub chairs, which sit completely inside the bathtub. Seniors may be able to turn around and sit on the chair with both legs outside of the tub and then lift one leg at a time over the tub wall while seated.

Flooring Modifications

Flooring is another consideration for older adults making home modifications with the goal of aging in place. The first step is to evaluate the home’s existing floors. If the carpet is older and shaggy, you may want to consider replacing it with new carpeting that has a shorter nap. Seniors are less likely to trip on shorter-nap carpeting, and it’s also more suitable for seniors who navigate through the home with the use of a walker or wheelchair.

Hardwood, tile, laminate, and vinyl floors are smooth and may allow for easier wheelchair maneuvering, but they also tend to be more slippery than carpeting. People often use throw rugs on these types of flooring, so be sure that you either get rid of them or securely tape them down to prevent trips and falls.

The best course of action to take when making home modifications for seniors aging in place is to consider all of the areas of the home that present the most trouble or concern. If there are things that are especially difficult for seniors, like reaching the countertops or light switches, modify them. If there are potential tripping or falling hazards, eliminate them or modify them accordingly. Taking a proactive approach to modifying the home means that seniors can age in place independently while their loved ones have peace of mind knowing that their aging loved ones are safer in their homes.