Renovating with universal design principles in mind
According to AARP, 85% of older adults who want to age in place, have done nothing to prepare their homes. That’s a slightly terrifying statistic as most homes were not built with universal design features in mind. Universal design is “the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaption or specialized design.” (The National Association of Home Builders) Some of the common elements in universally designed homes are no-step entry, one-story living, wider doorways and halls, enough floor space for wheelchairs to navigate. It’s also important to have non-slip surfaces, handrails and railings, good lighting, lever door handles and rocker light switches, easy access cabinets, raised outlets.
While 50 is the new 30 (at least that’s what we’re saying around here), when you are buying real estate in your 50s and beyond, you should be thinking about how you will age in that house and what potential modifications you might need to make in the future. If you live in an older home or one that is not particularly conducive to aging in place, you want to think about modifications that will allow you to live there longer, well before you start having issues navigating your home. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) offers a certification program for Aging in Place Specialists who can help you ensure that universal design principles are taken into consideration when undertaking home improvement projects. Click here to search for a specialist near you. It will be so much easier to tackle aging in place projects over time, rather than waiting until they become truly necessary. Even if you are years away from utilizing the features associated with aging in place, the beauty of universal design principals is that they are intended for the benefit of everyone so it makes good sense to consider these design principals whenever you are updating or renovating your home. Click here for a brief article on remodeling with universal principles in mind. Finally, here is a checklist to help you consider the adaptations you should make to your home.
If financing renovations is a concern, there are grants, loans and incentive programs available at the national, state, and county level for older Americans looking to do home renovations. When looking to buy a new home that needs significant modifications, you can consider getting a renovation/construction mortgage- FHA has the 203(k) loan and Fannie Mae offers the HomeStyle renovation mortgage, both of which allow you to purchase and renovate your new home under one mortgage. It’s best to talk to your mortgage banker about the different options available to determine which is right for your specific situation.
If everything goes according to plan, all of us will be faced with the need to adjust our environment to accommodate the physical changes brought on by aging at some point or another. Why not get a jump start on it and tackle a project or two now?
Photo credit: iStock.com/Yok_Piyapong