Aging in Your Own Home

written by June Duncan

As we age, we will probably need help on some level. However, that does not mean you have to move to a nursing home or an assisted living facility. If you have good health overall but need minimal help, such as getting up stairs or bathing, you may just need to modify for your home so you can age in place.

Benefits of Aging in Your Own Home

Being more comfortable is the most obvious benefit of aging in your own home. Instead of moving to a new place with few of your own belongings, surrounded by people you do not know, you can wake up every day in the place you call home. You will also remain close to your neighbors and friends, so you do not need to worry with making new social connections.

These friends and neighbors can check in on you and offer help. Also, you can hire someone to either check in to help with small tasks or someone who can stay with you all day. This is a better option when you consider that a staggering 91 percent of nursing homes lack adequate staff to properly care for patients, resulting in neglect whether intentional or not (Statistic Brain).

Although making home modifications may seem expensive, according to MetLife, a private room at a nursing home costs an average of $90,000, and assisted living facilities average more than $42,000. And those are prices you pay every year. Home modification costs will vary by project, but you can tackle one at time as you can afford them, and the projects are a one-time cost.

Tackling Home Accessibility Modifications

The easiest and cheapest modification will be removing scatter rugs. They are a big fall hazard. According to AARP, the bathroom is the first room you should focus on modifying. Changes include widening the doorway, adding grab bars near the toilet and shower/tub area, and adding a bench to the shower. Also, curbless showers or walk-in bathtubs are ideal, so you may wish to include these upgrades.

For the kitchen, side-by-side refrigerators are a better option because they are easier to open. Also, choose a countertop microwave instead of an over-the-oven version. If possible, install outlets along the backsplash to limit reaching down for plugs and place lighting under the cabinets to better illuminate countertop areas.

Throughout the house, consider adding recessed lights to any room containing only a single light source, such as a floor lamp. If you are on a budget, increasing the wattage in light fixtures is helpful. Furthermore, carpet is not wheelchair or walker-friendly, so consider replacing it with hardwood. Stairs can be difficult to tackle, so install a ramp to get in and out of the house. Even just two little stairs can present a challenge.

Finding a Credible Contractor

When choosing a contractor to complete your home modifications, be sure to check their credentials. The National Association of the Remodeling Industry offers great advice on how to select a professional. Sites like the National Association of Home Builders allow you to search for a credible remodeler. And sites like Improvenet allow you to search these credible contractors to find out project-by-project rates and reviews.

When it comes to making home modifications to allow you to age in place, try to make changes now. You do not want to wait until a situation occurs, such as a major surgery that puts you in a wheelchair for months. This could mean you need to stay in an assisted living facility while necessary renovations to your home are completed. Also, you can avoid injuries if you have grab bars and lighting already in place.

June Duncan

Author and Caregiver

june@riseupforcaregivers.org

riseupforcaregivers.org