Future proofing your home for longevity and aging in place is becoming a priority for the Baby Boomer generation. But many folks of this age group do not have the income to spend money on these important, safe, yet expensive upgrades that would enable them to comfortably “age-in-place”.
According to Leaf Home Morning Consult report, 55% of baby boomers have no plans to move.
The top reasons for baby boomers staying put include:
No need to move (79%)
Close to family (34%)
Too expensive to move (33%)
Low crime (25%)
Weather or climate (18%)
Interest rates (12%)
But 68% of boomers live in homes over 30 years old or more, and many have done no renovations—nor do they intend to—according to the report. For example, among those who have lived in their home for more than 25 years, 85% have no plans to add safety or accessibility features, 83% say they aren’t planning to replace the furnace or air conditioner, 80% won’t replace roofing or siding, and 67% aren’t upgrading large appliances. They’re essentially living in time capsules, and that’s a problem for them and future generations. “The housing market is caught in a generational tug-of-war,” says Jon Bostock, Leaf Home’s CEO.
For the residents, the homes are missing critical safety and accessibility features, and future buyers will be burdened with renovating these dated properties. “With an aging and ignored inventory of homes available in the next decade, we may see a crisis that will overwhelm the home improvement industry and strain the budgets of inheriting millennials, impacting the housing market,” he adds.
Design for Future Needs
It doesn’t always take a big home addition, a sizable financial investment or an overhaul of the way you live to ensure that you can stay in your home as you age.
The 2024 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study emphasizes the importance of designing with longevity in mind and accommodating aging household members’ future and current needs. It found respondents attuned to aging-in-place renovations in the kitchen, and more than half of homeowners (52%) anticipate special needs arising within the next five years.
Among renovating homeowners, 27% said special needs in the kitchen were the reason to renovate, and 36% did so to address future needs. Twenty-eight percent said they expect a future need to arise in the next 12 months, and 51% anticipate a need to emerge in the next five-plus years.
Those renovating for aging purposes looked to universal design elements to introduce safety and functionality with features like pullout cabinets (58%), extra lighting (54%), and wide drawer pulls (48%).
Other changes to accommodate aging in place were:
Nonslip floors (37%)
Rounded countertops (34%)
Wheelchair-accessible doorways/pathways (22%)
Lower fixtures (14%)
Lower countertop height (5%)
Houzz also found that more homeowners (54%) prefer to replace all appliances during a renovation. Though not explicitly chosen for aging-in-place reasons, renovating homeowners are increasingly picking appliances with high-tech capabilities. For example, 30% chose appliances with Wi-Fi connectivity, and 29% opted for models that can be controlled with a smartphone or tablet.
Such models can enhance seniors’ quality of life. For instance, they allow remote control and monitoring so homeowners can manage appliances remotely or from another room. Moreover, certain refrigerators include features such as food expiration monitoring and automatic grocery list creation that streamline to-do lists. Additionally, newer appliances are more energy efficient, which benefits the environment and reduces utility bills.
The Bigger Picture
Interior designer Karen Topjian, founder of MCM Designs, who works with many clients who want to remain in their homes as they get older, advises homeowners to start by assessing their surroundings. Determine which projects may be DIY and which may be better executed by a professional, to create a safe and efficient place to age.
Topjian and interior designer Allie Mann of Case Design, both of whom are certified aging-in-place specialists, offer these ideas.
1. Change out doorknobs and other hardware
Many older homes have round doorknobs, which people can find hard to turn as they develop arthritis or lose dexterity in their hands. It’s easy and relatively inexpensive to switch your doors to lever handles.
When thinking about doors, include kitchen and bathroom cabinets as well as swapping out knob faucets for easier-to-use levers. Mann recommends installing motion-sensor faucets. These were originally designed for commercial spaces like restaurants, “but we’re seeing more and more offerings for residential use.”
Consider a mudroom or a dedicated place for baskets for shoes and items that can pose a tripping hazard.
2. Declutter, then upgrade storage options
To avoid tripping on the stuff that collects on floors and in hallways, set up dedicated storage areas for small items that get underfoot, especially at night when visibility is limited as we age. For example, create a spot for shoes in each room, like a rack next to the front door or a basket in the bedroom. Then get in the habit of placing your shoes in the designated area each time you remove them.
The same goes for grandchildren’s toys or pet toys. Make sure there’s a special chest or bin in each room.
Topjian also suggests creating a dedicated spot in each room for reading glasses (so you won’t have to go hunting for them) and adding extra phone chargers in rooms where you spend a lot of time.
3. Create safer floors and walkways
Small rugs that can slide around present a fall risk, so swap out several small throw rugs for a large low-pile (1/4” or less) area rug that’s secured by a pad underneath and anchored by pieces of furniture. Be mindful of transitions from one space to another, and consider changing out your threshold, maybe to a slimmer profile.
Also, be sure all walkways are wide enough, and if necessary, remove decorative pieces of furniture, like console tables, that can make an entryway or hallway too narrow.
4. Add user-friendly lighting
“As we age we need more light around the home. So that can mean getting brighter bulbs (make sure they are warm-colored LED’s) or just increasing the light you have in the space,” Mann says.
Another easy fix: Replace older light switches with rocker switches that toggle back and forth. These are easier to maneuver and can be installed with dimmers that slide up and down along the side of the switch.
Also, consider hiring an electrician to lower the location of some light switches, putting them within reach of someone in a wheelchair or in another seated position. Another option is to install just one or two voice-activated lights or light bulbs (the old clap-on, clap-off idea) or ones you can control from your smartphone.
Be sure to have safe lighting for nighttime hours. Install nightlights that illuminate your path from the bedroom to the bathroom, for example. One idea is to replace some older outlets with Outlet Nightlight Cover Plates as seen in the picture above.
Video doorbell
5. Get a video doorbell
AARP recommends an easy electronic upgrade, a video doorbell. This advantage means you won’t have to hurry to the door as soon as the bell rings. You can check the video feed from your phone or iPad to determine who is there, see if packages have been delivered or use a speaker to talk with the person outside. Some of these come with a monthly or annual fee, so be sure to investigate the possibility of added costs.
6. Add safe, visible handrails
For added security, install grab bars in a shower and elsewhere in a bathroom. It is very important to emphasize that these should be installed by a professional who can properly block and anchor the bars to the interior surface of the wall. Bathroom grab bars and other handrails should never be placed on top of tiles or attached to a wall’s surface as they can eventually break off and lead to a Senior’s catastrophic fall.
A curbless shower can make it easy for a handicapped person to enter with a walker or a wheelchair. Remember to hire a Professional to install plenty of handrails.
7. A shower and toilet upgrade
If your home has a traditional bathtub that you step up and into, it may be time to shift to a curbless shower that has no barrier as you enter. Make sure the space where you step into the shower is wide enough to potentially accommodate a wheelchair, and then add a (professionally installed) grab bar and shower seat to create a safer bathing space.
8. Swap out your chairs
People may overlook this, Topjian says, but it’s important to have the right kind of chairs as you get older.
For the kitchen, dining room and anywhere else you like to sit, be sure the chairs are sturdy, have arms to steady you as you stand up or sit down and have a firm seat that’s not apt to slip off.
And don’t forget, Topjian says, “stay away from swivel chairs!” Yikes!
Cassy West is a Seniors Real Estate Specialist in Vero Beach, FL. helping and guiding the aging population whether they want to sell, buy or remain in their home.
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