How to help your home age as gracefully as you are

We love our homes. For many of us, it’s where we raised our families (seems like yesterday), and where we feel comfortable. Close to family, friends, neighbors, church, doctors … and so many memories. It’s no wonder many retirees prefer to live in their own homes for as long as they can.

Problem is … the average home wasn’t built with the retiree in mind. Plus, the reality is that we don’t see as well as we once did. Our balance isn’t what it once was. And the ole joints don’t love stairs like they used to.

But retirees are nothing if not creative and determined. That’s why many choose to make changes to their homes that will make them safer and more accessible to live in as they age (“aging in place”).

Changes to your home can be slow and steady

Aging in place has so many layers and moving parts. From adding grab bars in bathrooms, to widening doorways for a wheelchair, to bringing someone in to help with housework and, eventually, the caregiving itself … the topic can be overwhelming. But in most cases, not every improvement or service needs to happen all at once.

You’ll want to take some time and learn about everything aging in place entails. But for now, if you’re wondering if there’s anything you can do today … yes, there is!

Simple steps to make your home safer:

• Lighting. Improve lighting to enhance visibility, especially in stairwells and darker corners of the home.

• Eliminate common trip hazards.

  • Electrical cords: Make sure they don’t loop out from under the couch or bed (but don’t put them under a rug either).

  • Rugs: Don’t use scatter or throw rugs. If you use a large, heavier area rug, fasten some type of nonskid backing or double-sided carpet tape underneath it.

  • Pets:
    • Know where they are when you’re standing or walking.
    • When you’re carrying something bulky like a laundry basket — especially if you can’t see your feet — sequester your pet in another room or in their crate until you’re finished carrying things around.
    • Keep their toys stashed in a corner somewhere.

  • Under your feet: Watch for trip hazards like cracked tiles and curled carpet edges and ask someone to help with a temporary fix. (In the future, you might consider installing low-impact flooring, which absorbs more energy than standard flooring materials. Rubber and cork are good choices, as they’re soft and slip-resistant.)

• Shelving. In bathrooms and kitchens, change what and how you store things to reduce the amount of stretching, standing on tiptoes, or the need for a stepstool.

• In bathrooms. Install non-slip decals, add a shower bench and grab bars (when you can get it done) in and out of the shower and next to the toilet and sink. Have a plumber install comfort height toilets, and single faucet levers in the sink and shower to reduce the risk of burns.

• Use your handrails. You might someday want to install more (they can go in hallways, along the kitchen counters and next to each exit), but for now, when going up and down the stairs, hang on to the handrails you have.

• At doorways. Make entrances easy to get in and out of with groceries or bags. Create an area to place bundles or packages so hands are free and balance is easy to maintain when coming and going.

• Door handles and cabinet pulls. Replace round doorknobs with lever-handled doorknobs, which are easier to grip and don’t require a twisting motion. Doors with lever-handled hardware are easier to use with a palm, fist or elbow when hands are full or arthritic. Also install cabinet pulls that are easier for an arthritis sufferer to open without having to grip knobs.

• Declutter. Donate or toss that extra stuff, including furniture you no longer need or want, to make your home and individual rooms easier to get around in.

Resources abound to help you learn about aging in place

You can start learning about aging in place at your own pace. Many organizations offer in-depth information.

• One is the National Institute on Aging that offers a “30,000-foot view” of the aging in place landscape, including a home safety checklist to give you some ideas to think about.

• Another, AARP, offers an extensive 36-page illustrated resource titled “HomeFit Guide.”

When you’re ready to enlist help …

• Ask friends and family — even your doctor — if they have good referrals for someone to do the work. Maybe a home improvement store can refer you to skilled contractors and carpenters who know how to do many of the upgrades you might select, for example, installing a no-step “curbless” shower to replace your tub/shower combo.

• Or, consider talking with a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS). Developed by the National Association of Home Builders, this professional can help you create a prioritized to-do list according to your budget. Your home improvement store might have a list of CAPS-designated contractors, or you can go to the NAHB website. Scroll down just a little, and in the first filter on the left, check “CAPS,” and in the third filter, your state. Or check with your local home builders association.

Other resources:

• Contact your local Area Agency on Aging to learn about services available to you.

• Look into Eldercare Locator, which connects older Americans and their caregivers with trustworthy local support resources. Visit the Eldercare Locator or call 1-800-677-11161-800-677-1116.

• You may be able to get help paying for repairs and safety updates to your home. Check with your state housing finance agency, social services department, community development groups, or the federal government for financial aid programs and discounts. You can also visit Eldercare Locator (above) for help finding resources.

There are a lot of things you can do to keep your home safe and easy to live in. Being aware of what your future self will need can help you every time you make little and big upgrades to the home you love.