The growing trend of aging in place has highlighted the importance of home modifications to address potential mobility and safety concerns. While many seniors are looking to stay in their homes for as long as possible, there are challenges when remaining in a multi-story home. Retrofitting your 2-story home in Northern Virginia can help to enhance independence and comfort and allow you to stay somewhere you enjoy living for as long as possible. Let’s look at the key things to keep in mind when retrofitting a home for a senior who wants to age in place.
Assessing the Home for Senior-Friendly Modifications
Before you modify your property, you’ll want to conduct a home safety evaluation. While you could consider doing this alone or with trusted family members, we recommend hiring a professional if you don’t feel confident about safety-proofing your home. This assessment will allow you to identify high-risk areas, such as stairs, bathrooms, and entryways. At this point, you want to consider the specific needs of the senior remaining in the home. Mobility, vision, and cognitive changes will all require different modifications to support living a happy and healthy life while opting to age in place.
Making Stairs Safer and More Accessible
Your stairs are one of the top safety hazards in your home. Installing a stairlift or residential elevator for easy access is a great idea for anyone struggling with the stairs while wishing to stay in a 2-story home in Northern Virginia. Adding non-slip stair treads and sturdy handrails on both sides is another option if you don’t need that support. We recommend installing stairway lighting to reduce fall risks, especially if you go between floors at night. If you find that stairs are becoming unmanageable but still want to remain in the property, consider a downstairs living space conversion to enjoy your home as much as possible.
Enhancing Bathroom Safety and Accessibility
Bathrooms see many trips, slips, and falls each year within the senior population. Installing grab bars near toilets, showers, and bathtubs offers something to hold onto if you find yourself losing your balance. Switching to a walk-in shower or tub is a common option when retrofitting a home to age in place and allows you to still look after your health and hygiene safely each day. Raising the toilet height offers easier use when getting up and down, and you might want to consider adding non-slip flooring and a handheld showerhead to reduce safety risks further.
Creating a Safer Bedroom and Living Space
With the amount of time we spend each day in the bedroom and living room, it’s critical that you retrofit these areas to support aging in place. Adjust your bed height for easy entry and exit so you don’t worry about falling out of bed in the morning or getting up to use the bathroom at night. You may want to consider changing some of your furniture pieces. Using furniture with rounded edges helps to prevent injuries.
When you are retrofitting your property, this is a good opportunity to remove trip hazards and tidy up your home. Taking away rugs and clutter that you may trip over will make it easier to get around safely. Smart home technology, such as motion-sensor lights and voice-activated assistants, can be installed to help make your home more comfortable and safer. These are very easy to use and ideal for seniors, even if they aren’t too keen on adding too much technology to their lives.
Improving Entryways and Outdoor Accessibility
Getting in and out of your home should be easy for you so that you can still get out and about in Northern Virginia. Adding ramps or lifts helps to eliminate stairs at your home’s entrance. Installing handrails and non-slip surfaces on walkways is essential when encountering inclement weather such as rain and snow. If you are now using a walker or wheelchair, ensure all your doorways are wide enough to allow you to pass with these mobility aids. Finally, using keyless entry systems improves ease of access and stops you from going through your bag and getting flustered looking for your keys.
Hiring Professional Assistance
While many of these tasks can be carried out alone or with the help of your loved ones, there comes a time when hiring professional assistance is the best option. If you don’t feel comfortable undertaking some of these projects or they require lifting of heavy objects, seek the aid of a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS). CAPS is a joint program of the National Association of Home Builders and AARP that recognizes professionals trained to help seniors and individuals with disabilities live safely and comfortably at home.
Occupational therapists can also provide support and advice on the most important changes to your home to age in place safely. In-home care services, such as those offered by our Paragon Home Care team, help support aging in place. They allow you to stay in your home for many years while enjoying additional support for daily activities you may struggle to do alone. Our team offers tailored services that will be personalized to fit your unique needs.
Retrofitting a home is a key component to successfully aging in place. If you are in Northern Virginia, Paragon Home Care can provide you with a free Home Safety Assessment as well as connect you to trusted CAPS Certified contractors and occupational therapists. Contact us today for more information about the services and discuss any questions.