Aging-in-Place Resolutions for the New Year

nita47 Oval or egg-shaped door knobs are interesting, attractive and surprisingly easy to grasp. We got them for looks, but expect to be able to keep them well into our senior wonder years.

lyvia As I planned for aging, I found too much focus on wheelchairs and not enough on bad backs, knees and eyes which are far more common. Most elderly can manage a few steps, but definitely need a railing, and visual cues. I wish there were more raised dishwashers, and microwaves that were not over ovens. Brighter kitchen light is a must to encourage cleaning.

louiseconn Not just ageing - try having a sprained ankle and getting around most homes. We have a 4 year old daughter with Cerebral Palsy who will be in a wheelchair, and most likely live with us for a long time to come. We are in the process of designing a completely accessible home for all of us - but we want it to look like a modern, comfortable and stylish home, not a hospital. So the brief to our architect is 'invisible accessibility' - slightly larger doors throughout the house, no steps, great flooring, easy access bathrooms and taps are the obvious ones - we love going through Houzz and seeing great rooms that are accessible without even knowing it. Accessibility should be standard practice in architecture and interiors - as, beautiful and timeless as our homes may be, the same cannot always be said for it's occupants!

patricia beharry you forgot to add walk-in showers. also showers where you can wheel a wheelchair through the doors

stevehorn Great topic highlighting the all too often overlooked segment of society. Thank you!

microhouse Backyard cottages are one option for seniors wising to live close to their families. Because they are built new they are able to accommodate universal design features that are great for everyone. To learn more about backyard cottages please visit our web page and blog. http://seattlebackyardcottage.blogspot.com

tsudhonimh Adding - needless floor level changes, such as raised entry areas, sunken living rooms, "conversation pits" and other useless changes of level are totally useless.

My neighbor jackhammered his raised entry and filled the conversation pit with concrete before he retiled his floor.

Christies Design Build Remodeling As a Design Build firm we build specifically for your needs. One of the biggest issue is people do not like to think of themselves as getting older and how fast their lives can change. Such as an accident or birth defects, in all cases the remodel should be focused on the clients personal needed. Part of that process is asking about future needs, but at the end of the day it comes down to two things budget and need. What works best for you and what will give you the biggest bank for the buck.

Joanne Cannell Designs Good posting. I agree with most of it, but I try to encourage single control faucets - or possibly the new touchless models that have a sensor. It's also important to consider things like grab bars, a bench, a handshower & thermostatic valves in the shower. It's great to plan for an elevator, but having electrical available for a chair lift might be a more realistic option. Contrasting colors can be helpful for failing eyesight. There are so many more things to consider, based on current & potential future needs.

Nina sobiNina Design I like this essential topic.

marianajalba Great posting! It could be a good idea to post such topics more often!

carolmadey I'm a very capable person, but also have MS. My husband and I designed our new house with several features should I be less than capable. An elevator shaft (currently used as closets but the ceiling and floor can be popped out should we need to install an elevator) extra wide doorways to accommodate a wheelchair. Single lever faucets. Wheelchair accessible shower. We installed Emtek 28 degree hardware which requires someone to only push a little on a knob for it to open (very important for people who suffer from arthritis or any other ailment where numbness or pain in the joints makes it difficult to open things.

maryphil We were in our 40's when we built our home and thought about our future as
we both have aging parents that had a hard time adapting to their homes as they got older. We built a one storey, scored stained concrete floors, wide door ways and hallways, lever door handles, walk in showers,... Thought we thought of everything but we still missed some features. There is never a perfect house.

Peter Medvin Another idea for aging in place is incorporating Zoom-Room, the electronic, remote controlled retractable Murphy Bed. It is a great space saver, and even more importantly, it's effortless to operate - just press the button on the remote. This is especially useful for folks who can no longer make it up the stairs to their original bedroom, or just as a guest bed that's easier to operate than a convertible sofa or traditional Murphy Bed. Check it out at www.Zoom-Room.com.

shdesigns From personal experience, carpeting or "well secured runners" as shown in the example above, can be even more slick than wood steps. My foot glided right over the edge of a step as I was halfway down the staircase and down I went. Steps are dangerous irregardless of materials.

Pam Wojcik Great information for all of us to keep in mind. We have remodeled many bathrooms (and kitchens and doorways) in our recent houses. The Commercial ADA Guidelines (found on the internet) can be helpful....giving you ideas that had not occurred to you. I have a full printed copy on hand.
Todays homes now favor open spaces, which makes this "easy access" design simpler and without the visual "label" attached to the special needs it fills.
I agree, faucets should be single lever; Grab bars (from big box stores and on line) look like towel bars, but when installed correctly, can meet ADA standards( Moen HomeCare is one line and very affordable.)
A fold down bench in Teak says "spa", Try for the larger shower area , and the opening larger than the usual. Many people will not roll the whole wheel chair into the shower, because they sometimes use a small wheeled lighter 'transport" chair around the house, or a transfer bench. Look at my master bath remodel in my new- to- me- 1996 house.
I am happy to answer questions and assist with ideas for Houzz members seeking information. Just email me at pamwojcik@comcast.net

Marina Klima Goldberg - Klima Design Group This is a very important topic, and what I noticed is that people that are getting older or have mobility issues do not want their homes to look institutional. I was able to create some spaces where you would never say they are for people that are older or that are on wheelchair.