Aging in Place Remodeling: Tips and Modifications for Your Home
It’s no surprise that most people would rather spend their later years in the home they’ve built than in an impersonal facility across town. According to AARP’s national survey, 75% of adults 50 and older said they would prefer to remain in their current homes as they age. There’s one problem, though: Those houses often lack the accessibility older homeowners need. Stairways can become harder to navigate, tubs become more difficult to step into safely, and traditional doorknobs may feel uncomfortable to use.
Aging in place remodeling helps address those challenges on your schedule, before mobility needs make modifications more urgent. The renovations typically cost less than moving into a new house or facility, and you get to keep the lifestyle and neighbors you know and love. When handled early and appropriately, remodeling you more say over how you live as you get older.
What Is Aging in Place Remodeling?
Aging in place means continuing to live in your home instead of moving to a retirement community or nursing home as you grow older.
Aging in place remodeling helps make staying in your home safer and more practical. You adjust the house to support your changing mobility needs so your living space stays safe and accessible. But you don’t have to wait until you’re a certain age or have a medical need to renovate your house. It’s easier to install a curbless shower when you’re 45 than when you’re 65, and it provides a head start on senior home renovation later in life.
Aging in Place Remodel Costs: What To Expect
Like with all home renovation projects, costs vary widely for senior home remodeling jobs. Adding a grab bar in the shower or a lever faucet in the kitchen tend to land on the low end of most estimates. But a full renovation of a two-story home requires a more significant investment. What you pay depends on the scope of the work, the age and layout of the house, and local labor rates.
Many renovation projects for aging in place fall between $3,000 and $15,000, though larger whole-home remodels can cost significantly more, according to Fixr. The table below covers common home modifications for seniors, with typical installation costs and notes to help you decide which projects to tackle first.
Declutter Before You Remodel
Clean and clear any room you intend to renovate before you hire a contractor. You want to give the team more room to work efficiently and protect your items from dust and damage. Sort everything into four groups for an easier time.
Donate
Furniture in decent, usable condition deserves a second shot. College HUNKS’ donation pickup service collects gently-used pieces and drops them off at local charities whenever possible, so that your old dresser goes to a neighbor in need and not the landfill outside of town.
If you’re downsizing furniture to create wider walkways or improve accessibility, consider whether unused planters or gardening supplies still serve a purpose. You may even find new opportunities to create a simple indoor garden that’s easier to maintain.
Sell
Any high-value items, like an intact dining set or barely used recliner, can help cover portions of your remodeling project. You can list each piece individually on a local marketplace app or hold a weekend yard sale, then put the proceeds toward grab bars, a new faucet, or better lighting in the bathroom.
Recycle
You can recycle plenty of what you clear out. Any old metal shelving, electronics, or cardboard left behind from deliveries can go to the recycling center. College HUNKS recycles or donates up to 70% of what it hauls away, so less of your decluttering winds up wasted.
While clearing outdoor spaces, it’s also a good time to evaluate the condition of fences, gates, and other aging structures around the property. If repairs no longer make sense, hiring a team for fence removal does.
Remove
Some old items just need to go. For broken furniture, worn carpet, and renovation debris, College HUNKS’ eco-friendly junk removal service hauls away nearly anything that’s not hazardous, so you can start your renovations for aging in place with a clear space.
Decluttering doesn’t stop inside the home. Keep walkways, driveways, and outdoor living spaces free of debris to reduce tripping hazards. A few yard-cleaning tips can help maintain a safe outdoor environment year-round.
Aging in Place Remodeling Checklist: Room by Room
Use the following aging in place checklist as a starting point. Take time to walk through each room, note the trouble spots, and start with areas that carry a high fall risk.
Bathroom
Bathrooms are one of the most common locations for falls among older adults, which is why a bathroom remodel for aging in place is generally the first project most tackle.
- Install grab bars near the toilet, shower, and bathtub to provide additional support.
- Set up a curbless walk-in or roll-in shower that a wheelchair or walker can access easily.
- Add non-slip flooring to reduce the risk of slipping on wet tile.
Kitchen
Focusing on a few kitchen modifications for aging in place can make cooking more enjoyable, comfortable, and safer in the long run. It’s wise to prioritize:
- Lower the countertops that match a wheelchair’s height.
- Replace compression faucets with touchless or lever-handle mechanisms that ease discomfort on arthritic hands.
- Place brighter task lighting over the counters, stove, and sink.
Bedroom
You can make the bedroom safer and easier to use with the following modifications:
- Move the primary bedroom to the first floor to avoid lengthy treks up and down the stairs.
- Adjust the bed height so that your feet rest flat on the floor while sitting on the edge.
- Add a bedside handrail or grab bar to assist with getting in and out of bed safely.
Entryways and Hallways
Navigating the house you’ve spent years in shouldn’t come with additional risks, which is why so many renovate entryways and hallways to make getting in, out, and around easier.
- Install a zero-step entrance or ramp at the main entrance.
- Place grab bars near the entry and at key points along hallways for balance.
Motion-sensing or timed lighting reduces the risk of tripping and falling in a dark hallway at night.
Each of these updates has multiple things going for them: They’re affordable, make the entire house safer, and increase the appeal and value to prospective buyers should you ever decide to sell . Any buyer shopping around with home renovations for the elderly in mind often looks for the same universal design features.
A Smarter Way To Stay Home
Aging in place remodeling helps you create a safer, more comfortable home that can adapt to your needs over time. By making thoughtful updates before they become necessary, you can maintain independence and continue enjoying the home and community you know best.
When you’re ready to start aging in place projects, College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving can help prepare your space. The team offers junk removal for remodeling cleanouts and debris hauling, eco-friendly donation pickup for the furniture and mobility equipment you’re replacing, and hourly labor to move furniture and stage rooms before your contractor arrives. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation estimate.