More Americans are choosing to stay in their homes as they age instead of moving into retirement or assisted living communities. Data shows that in the past twenty years, the percentage of older adults living in traditional houses has increased while the number of older adults living in nursing homes has decreased.
It’s often a struggle to age in place comfortably, which is why many adults seek out home modifications and mobility tools that can help. This guide explores the best home modifications for older adults, including grab bars, stair lifts, and bathroom modifications.
The Best Home Modifications for Aging in Place
Home modifications are the best tools to help older adults move around their homes comfortably. Whether you or a loved one is struggling to get around the house safely due to mobility issues or other effects of aging like the loss of muscle mass–approximately 3 to 8% per decade after the age of 30 with an even higher decline after 60–or a disability, the right tool can make life easier.
Here are the top home modification tools professionals recommend:
- Grab bars
- Ramps
- Handrails
- Flooring
- Stairlifts
- Bathroom modifications
Each mobility aid offers unique support to adults as they age.
Grab Bars
Grab bars are simple but effective tools for reducing slipping or falling. To get the most use out of grab bars, they should be installed in high-traffic areas or areas with an increased chance of falling, such as the bathroom or shower.
Grab bars are relatively easy to install and should be installed on wall studs or anchors. They are also one of the most affordable mobility aids, costing between $20 and $50, depending on the size and material.
Many aging-in-place experts agree that grab bars are a simple yet effective way to prevent falls. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “falls are the leading cause of injury for adults ages 65 years and older,” with an estimated 1 in 4 older adults falling every year.
Even if you don’t have the funds to install bathroom modifications to make bathing safer or stair lifts to reduce fall risks on the stairs, you can install grab bars to stay safe in your home.
Ramps
Ramps increase home accessibility by removing the need to climb steep steps. Older adults with limited mobility can easily walk up ramps, making a home accessible for those using wheelchairs or mobility scooters.
Home modification companies can safely install wheelchair ramps, and reputable businesses include installation costs in the quote. By installing a wheelchair ramp in your home, you can eliminate the need to move to an assisted living facility to stay in your home long-term.
Handrails
Handrails often provide much-needed support when traversing stairs or walking from room to room. They’re ideal for adults with difficulty balancing or those struggling with anxieties around falling or slipping.
Handrails are commonly found along staircases, but they can also be installed near exits, in hallways, or in other high-traffic areas, such as a kitchen. Similar to grab bars, handrails are another cost-effective option that increases safety.
Flooring
If your floors appear to be a hazard with cracked tiles, curled carpet edges, or other visible damage, they’re likely unsafe for older adults. Installing low-impact flooring with slip-resistant features can increase safety while making the home easy to traverse for everyone.
Other tips for flooring come from Katie Martin, a home improvements and community services administrator at the Foundation for Senior Living (FSL), “Research shows that the leading cause of slips, falls, and trips are uneven or wet surfaces. It’s really important to make sure carpets and rugs are secure. Use non-slip adhesive strips on stairs or non-skid mats on kitchen or bathroom floors. Remove clutter like electrical cords or pet gear that could be easy to trip on and pick up spills immediately so you don’t slip on water, grease, or oil”.
Stair Lifts
When you think of home modifications, your brain may leap to large modifications such as stair lifts. Stair lifts are seats that move on a motorized track, moving people from one level of a home to another along a staircase.
The main benefit of stair lifts is that people with mobility issues or disabilities don’t have to navigate the stairs on their own. They reduce the risk of falls and injuries related to falls while also increasing a person’s independence.
Experts on senior care, like James Bowdler, the Founder of PrimeCarers in the UK, believe that stair lifts provide the safest means of accessing different floors for those experiencing mobility issues.
Bathroom Modifications
Bathrooms are often considered a danger zone for older adults. That’s because they’re full of potential hazards, including tight spaces, hard counters, and wet, slippery floors. That’s a lot to combat, but we know you want to get clean.
To combat potential hazards, you can make a few simple modifications and some larger ones to increase safety. First, you can install grab bars in the shower or bathtub, near the toilet, and on the wall near the mirror. Next, add a non-slip bath mat or raised toilet seat to the toilet. For the pièce de résistance, you can contact a home modification team to transform your shower or tub into a walk-in shower.
Home modification companies like Independent Home Solutions can make your bathroom more usable by installing a walk-in shower with a 0” or 4” entrance, making it a breeze to step in. The showers come with grab bars, and with the larger area, you can use a shower seat safely. Complete the online estimate tool to receive a quote for a walk-in shower for your Kansas City home.
Accessible Cabinet Pulls and Door Handles
Are you dealing with arthritis? Cabinet pulls and accessible door handles make it easy to open doors, cabinets, and drawers without causing pain to your hand. They’re a simple, affordable way to increase home accessibility.
What Experts Think About Home Modifications for the Elderly
Some senior care experts believe home modifications are unnecessary. They believe adults should move into community-based facilities such as assisted living homes when they struggle to live independently. Other experts believe that aging in place is safe as long as the correct steps are taken. Here’s what one expert has to say.
Giselle Bardwell, the President of Brightstar Home Care in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, shares that “Home modifications don’t need to be elaborate or expensive to be effective. We’ve seen many older adult clients benefit from easy-to-install modifications like grab bars, raised toilet seats, non-slip mats, and improved lighting. Small improvements like these can increase both comfort and safety, even for those on a fixed income”.
A Home Modification Tool
The National Falls Prevention Resource Center at the National Council on Aging and the Fall Prevention Center of Excellence at the University of South California School of Gerontology team up to create a quick visual infographic on five simple home modifications that can easily improve safety.
Home Modifications: FAQs
What company offers home modifications in Northeastern Kansas?
Independent Home Solutions offers affordable home modifications in Northeastern Kansas. Our service areas include Fairway, Kansas City, Leawood, Lenexa, Mission, Mission Hills, Overland Park, Olathe, Prairie Village, Shawnee, Roeland Park, and Westwood in Kansas and Blue Springs, Belton, Gladstone, Grain Valley, Grandview, Independence, Kansas City, Lee’s Summit, Liberty, North Kansas City, Pleasant Hill, Raymore, Raytown, and Waldo in Missouri.
Schedule your free home safety consultation for a free estimate on stair lifts, wheelchair ramps, or walk-in showers.
