ROOM BY ROOM HOUSE TOUR
As realtors who cater to finding the perfect home for downsizing retirees, we would be remiss if we didn’t dedicate our focus to the changing needs of aging adults and ensuring the livability in their home for years to come. We believe a third-age home has all the potential to be a forever home, a place where ensuing independence and quality of life prevails.
In our last Up-Close & Personal blog post, we had the privilege to talk to Living in Place & Wellness Design expert, Linda Kafka. Also referred to as Aging in Place, experts across the globe study the effects of aging and are adapting those changes to residential design. It is a progressive movement that we fully support and believe will keep you young at heart and more importantly, safe at home for many years to come.
Linda shared her profound knowledge on the topic with us and we are sharing it with you as it is relevant for everyone. After all, we are all aging or have loved ones who visit us and will benefit from these design improvements.
For Linda, her mission is simple: to advocate that every home be designed for a lifespan, so our spaces adapt to our changing needs regardless of age, ability, size or income. READ OUR Q&A
While we can’t promise to sell you a home that already has these design features in place, we always advise our clients to choose a structure that will allow future living-in-place modifications.
For instance, if you’re looking to live in a low-rise and aren’t interested in condo living, we will always recommend a one-storey bungalow or bungaloft.
Stairs may not present a problem now, but according to studies conducted by the Milken Center of the Future of Aging, by the time people reach their 80s, more than 4 out of 10 have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs. And if you think an elevator could solve this problem, guess again. Your two-storey home might not have the infrastructure to accommodate a home elevator and even if it does, it can cost up to $40,000 to install one.
Once you have the right structure, here is a helpful checklist of a number of living-in-place design elements that comprise a Forever Home.
AN AGE-FRIENDLY HOUSE TOUR
ENTRY
- A one-or-no-step entry
- Good lighting
- Covered porch
- Outdoor bench for sitting
- Easy-to-see house number
- Anti-slip surfaces
- Video camera in doorbell for added security
INTERIOR
- Open-concept floor plan with few obstructions
- Increased lighting, especially in hallways
- Larger windows, remote-controlled window coverings
- Contrasting colour palette for improved depth perception
- Wider doorways—a minimum of 36 inches
- Wider hallways—42’ to 44” recommended for wheelchair navigation
- Electrical outlets raised 15 inches from floor, and light switches lowered, 48” from floor
- Ramp installation if necessary
- Lever-style door handles
- Flooring that reduces falls—soft and water-resistant
“Did you know that 65% of emergency room visits are due to bathroom falls?”
BATHROOM
- Slip-resistant tile
- Reinforced walls for grab bar instalment
- Shower seat
- Anti-slip coating in tub/shower or anti-slip tiles for backsplash
- Zero threshold walk-in showers or tubs
- Hands-free faucet using lever or motion
- Shallow sink with maximum 6”inch depth
- Hand-held showerhead with controls
- Higher toilet height or install a seat extender
- Pocket door for easier navigation
KITCHEN
- Pullout and pulldown shelving, avoid deep shelving
- Multi-level counter height with rounded corners
- Touchless faucets
- Layered Lighting—under cabinet
- Dimmable flat panel switches
- Front-mounted control on cooktop
- D-shaped cabinet pulls
- Large drawer for easy access storage
- Microwave at counter height
How many of these design modifications do you have in your home presently? Does your home structurally offer the future possibility to implement these changes for improved livability or perhaps visitability for guests with mobility issues?
At Transitions Realty, we keep up to date on Living in Place design recommendations, and we ensure that any property we present to our downsizing clients will have the right structure to accommodate any of these changes. A forever home is a safe home that offers peace of mind now and in the future.
