If you intend to live in your current home to be your forever home, it should be able to accommodate your changing needs as you get older. Fortunately, upgrading your home for aging in place doesn’t necessarily require any major renovations. It’s more about making little changes to reduce the risk of injury and ensure easy navigation. 

With this in mind, here are a few simple and inexpensive home upgrades you can make for aging in place:

Zero-Entry Shower

Of all the spaces inside your home, the bathroom presents the greatest risk of injury. For instance, getting into and out of a shower with a wet floor is much more dangerous when you have to step over a tub or take a little step up. That’s why a key component of a home that’s designed for aging in place is a curbless or zero-entry shower, which allow you to easily walk into your shower with no barriers in your way. Zero-entry showers can also be designed to have wider entrances, making it possible to enter with a wheelchair or walker. 

Level Off the Foundation

Speaking of steps, many homes here in Florida have rooms at varying levels. You have to take a step up or down to get into the living room or sunroom. Leveling off the foundation eliminates these little steps all throughout your home, so you can move around freely without the risk of a fall. 

Grab Bars for the Bathroom

Another smart addition to the bathroom are grab bars. Ideally, grab bars should be installed in the shower as well as near the toilet, enhancing safety where it’s needed most. And we’re not talking about your grandparents’ grab bars: modern grab bars are incredibly stylish, and often are put in designs for homes not being updated to age-in-place.

Non-Slip Flooring

Certain types of flooring offer more traction as well as higher water resistance, making them less slippery. In the bathroom, you might opt for mosaic tiles with matte finishes and multiple grout lines. Non-slip flooring is also important in the kitchen (though not as important as in bathrooms).

Abundant Lighting

Our eyesight weakens as we age, so it’s crucial to update your home with abundant lighting. Not only does poor lighting increase the risk of accidents, it makes it difficult to read, cook, and enjoy your favorite at-home activities. 

In the kitchen, layered lighting ensures there’s adequate lighting throughout the whole space. For example, you could combine recessed ceiling lights with pendant fixtures and under-cabinet lighting, creating a well-balanced mix of ambient, task, and accent lighting. 

Low-level lighting can be particularly helpful for seniors, illuminating pathways and providing safe guidance during the night. With toekick lighting, LED strips are installed under the bathroom counter or kitchen cabinets. It’s just enough lighting to prevent trips and falls without unintentionally waking you up and disturbing your body’s circadian rhythms. After all, getting a good night’s sleep doesn’t get any easier with age. 

Are you ready to upgrade your home for aging in place? At the Debowsky Design Group, we believe that a home that prioritizes health and safety can still have knockout design. Get in touch when you’re ready to make some changes that enhance your home’s longevity as well as its appearance.