Consider these aging-in-place tips when remodeling your home.

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Thinking ahead today will allow you to stay in your home for many more years. Even if you aren’t thinking about remodeling for aging-in-place or retirement, many of these features will make future accessibility modifications easier down the road. Below is an extensive list that breaks down many spaces within your home. We hope that you’ll consider these tips while planning your next new construction or retirement renovations. No matter where you are in your remodeling journey, it’s nice to know that options exist to make living-in-place, a reality.

Let’s start with the big picture.

Overall Floor Plan

• Main living on a single story, including a full bath
• No steps between rooms/areas on the same level
• 5-foot by 5-foot clear/turn space in living area, kitchen, bedroom, and a bathroom

Exterior

• Low-maintenance exterior (vinyl, brick)
• Low-maintenance shrubs and plants
• Deck, patio, or balcony surfaces are no more than a half-inch below interior floor level if made of wood

Next, consider the avenues you use to navigate your home.

Hallways

• Minimum of 36-inches wide, wider preferred
• Well lit

Thresholds

• Flush preferable
• Exterior maximum of a half-inch beveled
• Interior maximum of a quarter inch

Entry

• Accessible path of travel to the home
• At least one no-step entry with a cover
• Sensor light at exterior no-step entry focusing on the front-door lock
• 32-inches of clear width, which requires a 36-inch door
• Non-slip flooring in the foyer
• Entry door sidelight or high/low peephole viewer; sidelight should provide both privacy and safety
• Doorbell in an accessible location
• Surface to place packages on when opening the door

Now let’s turn to the spaces we use every day: the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room.

Kitchen

Faucets

• Lever handles or pedal-controlled
• Thermostatic or anti-scald controls
• Pressure balanced faucets

Counters

• Wall support and provision for adjustable and/or varied height counters and removable base cabinets
• Upper wall cabinetry is three inches lower than conventional height
• Accented stripes on edge of countertops to provide visual orientation to the workspace
• Counter space for dish landing adjacent to or opposite all appliances
• Base cabinet with roll-out trays and lazy susans
• Pull-down shelving
• Glass-front cabinet doors
• Open shelving for easy access to frequently used items

Appliances

• Easy-to-read controls
• Microwave oven at counter height or in wall
• Side-by-side refrigerator/freezer
• Side-swing or wall oven
• Raised dishwasher with push-button controls
• An electric cooktop with level burners for safety in transferring between the burners, front controls, and downdraft feature to pull heat away from the user; light to indicate when the surface is hot

Storage

• Adjustable closet rods and shelves
• Lighting in closets
• Easy-open doors that do not obstruct access

Miscellaneous Details

• 30-inch by 48-inch clear space at appliances or 60-inch diameter clear space for turns
• Multi-level work areas to accommodate cooks of different heights
• Open under-counter seated work areas
• Placement of task lighting in appropriate work areas
• Loop handles for easy grip and pull
• Pull-out spray faucet; levered handles

Laundry

• Easy-to-read controls
• The washing machine and dryer raised 12-15 inches above the floor
• Front-loading laundry machines
• Pull-out spray faucet; levered handles
• In multi-story homes, laundry chute or laundry facilities in the master bedroom

Universal design details create an accessible space suited for everyone.

Ramps

• Slope no greater than one-inch rise for each 12-inches in length, adequate handrails
• Five-foot landing is provided at the entrance
• Two-inch curbs for safety

Can you tell we’re passionate about aging-in-place? Here are a few more tips for the rest of the home.

Flooring

• Smooth, non-glare, slip-resistant surfaces – interior and exterior
• If carpeted, use low (less than a half-inch high pile) density, with a firm pad
• Color/texture contrast to indicate a change in surface levels

Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning

• HVAC should be designed so filters are easily accessible
• Energy-efficient units
• Windows that can be opened for cross-ventilation, fresh air

Electrical, Lighting, Safety, and Security

• Light switches by each entrance to halls and rooms
• Light receptacles with at least two bulbs in vital places (exits, bathroom)
• Light switches, thermostats, and other environmental controls are placed in accessible locations no higher than 48 inches from the floor
• Electrical outlets 15-inches on center from the floor; may need to be closer than 12 feet apart
• Clear access space of 30-inches by 48-inches in front of switches and controls
• Rocker or touch light switches
• Audible and visual strobe light system to indicate when the doorbell, telephone or smoke, or CO₂ detectors have been activated
• High-tech security/intercom system that can be monitored, with the heating, air conditioning, and lighting, from any TV in the house
• Easy-to-see and read thermostats
• Pre-programmed thermostats
• Flashing porch light or 911 switch
• Direct wired to police, fire, and EMS (as an option)
• Home wired for security
• Home wired for computers

Garage or Carport

• Covered carports and boarding spaces
• Wider than average carports to accommodate lifts on vans
• Door heights may need to be nine feet to accommodate some raised roof vans
• Five-foot minimum access aisle between accessible van and car in the garage
• If the code requires a floor to be several inches below the entrance to the house for fume protection, can slope the entire floor from front to back to eliminate the need for a ramp or step
• Ramp to the doorway, if needed
• Handrail, if steps

Energy-Efficient Features

• In-line framing with two by six studs spaced 24-inches on center
• Air-barrier installation and sealing of ductwork with mastic
• Reduced-size air conditioning units with gas furnaces
• Mechanical fresh air ventilation, installation of air returns in all bedrooms, and use of carbon monoxide detectors
• Installation of energy-efficient windows with Low-E glass

Reduced Maintenance/Convenience Features

• Easy to clean surfaces
• Central vacuum
• Built-in pet feeding system
• Built-in recycling system
• Videophones
• Intercom system

We promise, just a few more ideas!

• Separate apartment for rental income or future caregiver
• Flex room that can be used as a nursery or playroom when the children are young and as a home office later; if combined with a full bath, the room could also be used for an aging parent/aging in place

Source: Home Innovation Research Labs ToolBase online resources.

Our award-winning expertise in Universal Design will make sure that your retirement renovations enhance and improve your living space for many years to come.