The latest tips to get your house in order—for now and years to come
Experts talk about preparing your body, your finances, and your estate for the golden years. But what about preparing your house?
If the idea of preparing your house for your senior years elicits images of utilitarian stairlifts, white plastic handrails, or even moving boxes labeled for a nursing home, think again. The idea of aging in place is shaping home design in thoughtful, innovative, and even luxurious ways.
“Many baby boomers have recently cared for their parents in environments that weren’t conducive to staying in the home,” says Julie Tindall, co-owner of Tindall Architecture Workshop with her husband, architect Matt Tindall. “They’ve taken that experience and are now asking, ‘How do I stay in my home and in my comforts while I age?’”
The answer, Tindall says, lies in well-thought-out design, such as easy-access entryways, wide doorways, functional flow, and keeping all living spaces and the primary suite on the main level. But that doesn’t mean you’ll be living on just one floor of your house.
Elevated Living
“We plan for elevators in almost all new construction,” says Tindall. “It may not be installed or used until later down the road, but we plan for it. An elevator lets you enjoy the entire home all the time.”
Residential elevators are quiet and require about the same amount of space as a small coat closet. “You can make them as fun and bougie as you want,” explains Tindall. “You can wallpaper them. You can panel them. You can put in a normal swinging door so it just looks like a closet from the outside. They are a nice added feature.”
And just because these features are designed for aging in place, it doesn’t mean you have to wait until you’re older to use them. Secondary bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms and private living areas are great spaces for guests now and caregivers in the future. Large zero-entry showers can be used by parents to bathe young kids or by people who need to shower in a wheelchair. Exercise rooms can be converted to office and craft space, or vice versa.
Tindall says aging in place also includes thinking about how the home can improve your health. “Exercise rooms, traditional and infrared saunas, and cold-plunge pools help people be healthy in their homes for as long as possible.”
With thoughtful design and a little luxury, you can not only stay in your home longer, but enjoy living in your home at every phase along the way.
A few more forward-looking design ideas for aging in place
- Avoid or minimize area rugs
- Consider motion sensor lighting
- Incorporate voice command technology to make daily tasks easier
