Remaining at Home as You Age

One of the most important things to consider when you are planning for retirement is where you want to spend your later years. Do you want to move into an assisted living facility, live with family members or remain in your own home?

If you want to stay at home, you are not alone; most people choose this option if it is available to them. You’ll want to come to this decision as early as possible so that you can modify your home now to accommodate your needs later. For example, if you do not have a restroom on the first floor of your home, you will definitely need to add one.

Most of today’s homes were not built for the elderly, but for young families. It is common for people to ignore the limitations of their homes until something happens that requires them to sit up and pay attention, like a fall or permanent disability. It is not a good idea to wait until you absolutely have to make changes due to lack of mobility, poor eyesight or another ailment. Making all of these modifications at once can drain you financially, and you will be living in an environment that might be dangerous for you until you have useful additions completed.

When you are ready to modify your home, contact someone that specializes in modifications for the elderly. Some of those changes include replacing traditional doorknobs with lever doorknobs, enlarging the bathroom and adding a walk-in shower, adding ramps, and lowering cupboards. These modifications don’t necessarily make your home look all that different; they are meant to create an accessible living environment for you, even when you are no longer functioning at the same level. These modifications also make your living environment safer as you age.