You should plan your accessible living renovation before you get older
August 31, 2023
You should plan your accessible living renovation before you get older
While you might be prepared in other areas of life – with insurance, retirement savings, and a will – what about your home? Completing an accessible living renovation now can help reduce stress and concern for you and your family as you transition into your golden years.
While you might be prepared in other areas of life – with insurance, retirement savings, and a will – what about your home? Completing an accessible living renovation now can help reduce stress and concern for you and your family as you transition into your golden years.
It’s inevitable; everyone ages. However, you can plan for the future by renovating your home in ways that will help you as you get older. And that means more than simply installing grab bars in your bathroom. So, what does an accessible living renovation – or aging-in-place renovation – consist of?
No threshold home entry with a gradual slope
Reducing or eliminating stairs – or at least the need to use stairs daily
When required, ensure handrails are sturdy
Stay away from slippery flooring and opt for non-slip, no-glare flooring materials
Widen hallways and doorways to a minimum of 36 inches
Shorten long hallways or corridors
Install front dial appliances
Lowering of frequent-use items like countertops and light switches
Change to a floating vanity and toilet
Create a zero-barrier shower with bench seating
Add pull-out shelving or lazy susan to help make cabinets easy to access
Lighting improvements for a brighter space with no shadows
An accessible living renovation can be any items from the list above that make sense for your lifestyle and needs. An aging-in-place renovation is exactly as it sounds – specific home renovations designed to help keep you in your home and living independently for as long as possible.
Accessible living renovations aren’t just for seniors
It is true – an accessible living renovation doesn’t need to be just for seniors or older folks. Home accessibility can positively impact any individual living with a disability. Did you know that roughly 20% of the population, or 1 in 5 Canadians live with a disability – whether the disability is visible or invisible?
An accessible living renovation can help you, if you have a disability, live a fuller, more enriched life. But completing an accessible living renovation can also give you peace of mind should you ever become disabled, even temporarily.
While on short-term disability, you likely won’t have the same income as you do when fully able. Also, if you rush your renovation while a short-term disability affects everyday life, you might be unable to work with the home renovation contractor you want to or could be required to pay a premium.
For these reasons and many others, it brings us to our next point – choose to plan your accessible living renovation before you need it.
Give yourself plenty of time to remodel and make decisions
The best things in life can be worth the wait, which goes for home renovations, too. While we’ve been known to take on projects with quick turnarounds, and we can create temporary fixes for your home while we complete larger projects – home renovations with time on your side will lead to less stress.
When you plan an accessible living or aging-in-place renovation in advance, you can methodically think about the decisions you want to make. It can allow you more time to source the materials and fixtures you want for your home renovation. You’ll feel more in control without having the added pressure of decisions under a time crunch.
While we will make your aging-in-place renovation a smooth and enjoyable process, it’s always better to have time on your side.
Less worry and concern for the future – for you and your loved ones
With your accessible living renovation plan in place, your preferred home contractor hired, and your dream home renovation underway – it can feel like a weight is being lifted off your shoulders.
While you’ll receive the benefits of not worrying about the future, your family members will also rejoice knowing that you are able and safe within your home. It’s important to talk to your family about the plans for your accessible living renovation. This will help them understand your goals, and there will be less to no burden passed to loved ones, family members, or friends.
Home accessibility is a hot resale feature
Imagine limiting your potential buying market by 20% or more – that is precisely what you do if your home design doesn’t have accessibility in mind. While you might not be thinking about reselling your home anytime soon, the need for accessible homes will only continue to grow.
Put yourself in the shoes of a potential home buyer – having the features they need to continue to live in their home long into their golden years is something they will want.
As I mentioned earlier, 20% of Canadians live with a disability. This number will likely continue to grow – with 22.5% of the Canadian population aged 65 and older by 2030. Make your home renovation accessible for an individual with a disability and friendly for aging-in-place – and you’ll reap the rewards if and when you need to resell.
What accessible living renovation is right for me?
Knowing what you want when it comes to home renovations can be tricky – throw in the added features to make it accessible, and the task can seem daunting. The good news is that we can help you decide what features you’ll likely need.
As for what’s right to help you with an aging-in-place renovation – it is nearly impossible to answer without discussing your plans for your home. We help review lifestyle needs and choices and cover the essential accessibility guidelines. Depending on your unique situation, we can help expand your accessible home renovation with additional services to ensure your comfort for years.
How can we help you with your accessible living renovation?
It starts with a plan and getting to know your needs and requirements from your home. Our interior design services will guide the entire lifecycle of the project. We help craft a floor plan and home structure for ease of movement.
Our fully guided interior design process for your accessible living renovation includes:
Presentation of floor plan layouts and renderings of your space
Material samples and shopping
Fully quoted home renovation project with a timeline
For every decision along the way, we will show you the advantages and disadvantages of each, giving you the power to make the decisions for your home renovation. Upon completing your accessible living interior design project, our design-build team takes over and brings your home renovation to life!
It also needs to be said that when the phrase “aging-in-place” or “accessible renovation” comes to mind – many think of a sterile, clinical-like environment. The benefit of working with a skilled interior designer is that your home – while fully accessible – will be the exact opposite. The design will be full of your character, charms, and personality, fit within various design styles and aesthetics you like. The space we design for you will be according to your vision and won’t seem like it’s intended for someone in a wheelchair or with a disability.
What are the top aging-in-place renovations to consider for your home?
We have vast experience completing home renovations like these in Winnipeg homes from all corners of the city and the surrounding area, too!
Main floor bedroom, bathroom, and levelled main living areas (i.e., no sunken den) – first-floor living
Stairlift installation
Reduce slip flooring as part of your main floor renovation or bathroom renovation
Barrier-free shower with bench and grab bars for your bathroom renovation
Lowering light switches and other control elements throughout the house
Ensuring areas are well-lit and easy to navigate
Features like railings, shower seating, lowered counters, and accessible toilets
While this list is robust, it’s not exhaustive. As we discuss your project with you, the information you give us will ultimately help us design and build other small things that can make a big difference.
Why it’s essential to work with an accessible living renovation expert
As you can tell from the list of commonly accessible living renovations, working with an expert is critical. To have an accessible living renovation completed that will help you live life to the fullest in your home and add value to your home requires extensive knowledge.
The home renovation company you hire must plan a full-scale interior design, pull permits, move/remove/relocate walls, touch electrical and plumbing, ensure your home functions ergonomically, and maintain beauty and tranquillity. Your home contractor needs to be skilled at creating both accessible kitchen renovations and accessible bathroom renovations so they can make your entire home accessible.
Working with an experienced, knowledgeable team like the Hammerdown team is always a safe bet to ensure your home renovation is long-lasting and done with integrity.
Want to work with us on your accessible living renovation?
We are ready to help you transition to a new chapter of your life or give you added security to know your home will work with you no matter what happens. We make it easy to start the conversation, and our knowledgeable, talented team is ready to help transform your home with a renovation guided by your vision.
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