Aging in Place Renovations for a House in Retirement
If you’re looking to retire or you already have retired, you may be considering securing a home to age in place, as opposed to living in a nursing home. Aging in place is preferable for many reasons, but it can come with some dangers and risks as well.
In fact, without properly renovating your home with the correct safety features, you could be at risk of injury or death should an accident occur. Thankfully, this is easily prevented by making use of “aging in place” renovations around your home. In case you or a family member is looking to stay safe and independent after retirement, let’s take a look at some renovations you should stay safe.
1. Railings
Railings are there to help you stabilize yourself as you walk. Though usually found alongside staircases, railings can be put anywhere where some walking help might be required. For aging in place, you should have ADA compliant grab bars near your shower and toilet. You should also install high-quality, durable handrails through the home where you might need them. This includes the kitchen, hallways, and bedrooms.
2. Durable Roofing
As a senior citizen, the last thing you need to be doing is climbing up on your roof for any reason. However, if you don’t have the funds for constant roof repair, you need a type of roofing that isn’t going to require much maintenance.
That’s where composite slate roofing comes in. This type of slate is made from a mixture of highly durable materials that won’t require nearly as much maintenance as regular slate. Your roof might be able to last multiple decades without requiring any repairs and you’ll still be able to have the beauty of natural slate without any of the durability concerns.
Steel lap siding is also a good idea if you’re looking for exterior materials that will stand the test of time without any maintenance required.
3. Under-Floor Heating
If energy efficiency and comfort are two priorities of yours, under-floor heating might be something you should consider. Radiant floor heating, for example, is a method of heating that uses coils underneath your floor to heat it, instead of forced air through your vents.
This heats rooms much faster and is more efficient at heating, allowing you to use less energy heating your home. Also, because it heats the floor from the ground up, radiant floor heating eliminates those pesky cold spots that are particularly uncomfortable as you age.
4. Rubber Flooring
Rubber flooring is naturally anti-slip, so it will give you more traction and make falls less likely. While you don’t necessarily need to install rubber flooring throughout your entire home, you should at least put it in your bathrooms and your kitchen. These are areas where water is commonly found on the floor so it only makes sense to have a non-slip material used for flooring.
In addition to being anti-slip, rubber flooring is generally softer than other materials which can also help ease the brunt of an impact should a fall occur. It comes in all different colors too, so you don’t need to have an all-black floor.
Age in Place Safely After Retirement with these Renovations
Aging in place is ideal for most of us, but you need to take precautions to ensure it can be done safely. Accidents and injuries can be a lot more serious when you’re older, so utilize these 4 renovations to make your home much safer and comfortable for yourself as you age in place after retirement. This will put both you and your loved ones at ease knowing that you’re safe and secure in your own home.
Brian Jeffries is the content director for the Innovative Building Materials blog and a content writer for the building materials industry. He is focused on helping fellow homeowners, contractors, and architects discover materials and methods of construction that save money, improve energy efficiency, and increase property value.