As your parents grow older, their home may need adjustments to help them keep their independence. Here are some remodeling tips to help your parents age in place comfortably and safely.
Easy Upgrades to Help Your Parents to Age in Place
Small upgrades can make a big difference. You don’t necessarily need to jump into a full remodel right away. Here are a few simple modifications that you can DIY and make a big difference in your parents' daily lives.
Grab Bars and Ramps
Installing grab bars in the bathroom and around the house reduces the risk of falls. Replacing entryway stairs with ramps makes it easier to get in and out of the house with a walker or wheelchair. If you decide to DIY a ramp, a 1:12 slope ratio is the easiest and safest for wheelchair accessibility and is recommended by the ADA. This means that for every inch of height there should be a 12-inch length of ramp. Building codes will allow for a steeper 1:8 ratio, but that’s too sharp of an incline for many elderly people to walk up easily. It’s also too steep for someone without a powered wheelchair to navigate. You can look at this handy ramp calculator for more detailed ramp building information.
Chair-Height Toilets
Switching to chair-height toilets is a simple, low-cost change that can greatly improve your parents comfort and keep them independent longer. Chair-height toilets are about two-inches higher than standard ones. This little bit of extra height can make a big difference in your parents’ ability to sit down and get up from the toilet on their own.
Level Transitions
Removing raised thresholds and ensuring even transitions between rooms can prevent trips and falls. This is particularly important if your parents have balance issues. It also helps if they use a wheelchair or walker.
Lever Handles
Replacing round door knobs with lever-style handles makes them easier to use, especially if your parents suffer from arthritis. It’s also a good idea to use lever handles for bathroom and kitchen faucets.
Light Switches
Older switches sometimes require two or three pounds of pressure to flip. If your parents are having problems with arthritis, or have limited hand strength, then it can be a challenge for them to turn on the lights. Update older switches to modern, easy-to-use designs like rocker or touch switches.
Brighter Lighting
As your parents age, their sight can become impaired. Good lighting makes it easier for them to see obstacles and helps prevent them from tripping and falling. Adding extra lamps and brighter bulbs to fixtures helps improve visibility. Installing sensor lights at entryways is also a good idea.
Shower Seats
Shower seats can help your parents shower safely—especially if they have leg weakness, balance issues, or neuropathy in their feet. Some shower seats are portable and can be easily taken in and out of the shower. Others can be permanently mounted to the wall.
Advanced Upgrades to Help Your Parents Age in Place
At some point, your parents will need larger renovations to help keep them safe and comfortable in their own home. When they do, here are some advanced upgrades to consider.
Raised Kitchen Countertops
Standard countertops are usually 36 inches high. But for accessibility, you might consider raising them to 39 inches. So, your parents won’t have to bend and twist as much while working at the counter.
Wide Doorways
Standard doorways are often too narrow for wheelchairs, walkers, or individuals who need someone to walk beside them and steady them. So, widen doorways where possible.
Bathroom Remodels
Bathroom remodels are important because bathrooms are the most likely room for seniors to fall. The most important upgrades are the shower, vanity, toilet and flooring. Switching out these items can be done without moving walls or painting. So it can be an affordable project that greatly improves your parents’ safety. As a bonus, replacing these items will increase the value of their home.
Walk-In / Roll-In Showers
Installing walk-in or roll-in showers with non-slip floors and built-in seats can reduce the risk of falls. Adding a handheld showerhead can also provide greater flexibility and ease of use.
Raised Vanities
Older vanities can be 28 to 30 inches high. Replacing them with 36-inch high vanities, similar to kitchen countertops, makes them more accessible.
Non-Slip Flooring
Replace slippery bathroom tiles for non-slip flooring to reduce the likelihood of falls.
Planning Tips for Age-in-Place Remodels
Plan Ahead
Careful planning can save time and money. For example, if your parents plan to replace flooring in one room now and an adjoining room later, they should buy all the flooring at once. This way they will get a perfect match even if the style is discontinued.
Piecemeal vs. Whole-Project Renovations
If finances are tight, breaking projects into smaller pieces can provide significant benefits while being easier on your parents’ cash flow. But, if they can afford to do an entire project at one time (whether that’s one room or the entire home), they’re going to save money in the long run.
Getting an entire project done at once creates labor efficiency. It ensures modifications are made in the correct order, so contractors won’t have to repeat work. For example, let’s say that your parents need to replace the toilet and the bathroom flooring. But they only have money to do one. The most pressing issue might be to replace the toilet. So they do that first. When they get the contractor back to put down the flooring, he’ll have to take up the toilet again in order to lay the floor. So, the contractor will have moved the toilet twice instead of once, which means more labor costs for your parents.
Financial Tips for Age-in-Place Remodels
IRA Distributions
If your parents have an IRA, they may have to take required minimum distributions (RMDs) at a certain age. These funds can be used for home modifications. Planning remodeling expenses around RMDs can help your parents get the renovations they need.
Financial Aid
If either of your parents is a veteran, the VA offers assistance for certain home modifications. There are also rural development grants and workman’s comp options that could help cover the costs. Workers compensation will often cover upgrades years after a work-related injury, especially for government employees.
In-Store Financing
Some remodeling companies offer low or no interest financing options with no money down. This means work can start immediately, but your parents can pay later. This is a great option if your parents can’t access their RMDs until 12 months from now or longer.
Innovative Baths in Tennessee Offers 0% Financing
If your parents live in Middle or East Tennessee, Innovative Baths can help them remodel their home to age in place with these financing options:
- 0% financing for three years: This option allows your parents to spread the cost over 36 equal monthly payments without any interest.
- 0% financing for 12 months: This option allows them to finance the remodel with no interest and no payments for the first year. This option is great if your parents want to wait until next year to access their RMD, but want to get work started right away.
We're here to help your parents live comfortably and safely in their own home for as long as they can. If your parents live in Middle or East Tennessee, see how we can help!
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