Are you preparing or building your retirement home? For those who are planning to build a home they plan to spend the rest of their lives in, you will want to design the home for the future. This may include home designs for aging in place. As we all age, certain day to day living can become more difficult. When you begin designing your home plan for the future, it’s important to design the home to make retirement living easier. Future Vision Remodeling will share a few considerations for your retirement and what aging in place features you may want as part of your home’s design.
Aging In Place Universal Design
You will find many contractors use the term aging in place for home designing, building or remodeling services. For those who are entering their later years, there are a few key features that can help everyday home living safer and easier. Many people don’t often get the opportunity to design and build their own home. Therefore, when they are building their retirement home it helps to have certain features in place. These features that help aging in place homeowners are often referred to as universal design. Universal designs are features within the home that can make the home accessible and usable by all. For those who may become wheelchair bound or those who may use walkers or other assistant tools and devices, you can still access your entire home and with more ease. Following are some universal designs that you may want to include in your future retirement home designs.
One Story House Plans
For a retirement home it is strongly recommended you design a single story home. It can become difficult for the elderly to climb up and down stairs. You will hear often that older people will abandon the top floor once they begin to struggle going up and down the stairs safely. For those who want the additional space and still prefer a two story home, consider installing an elevator, or make sure the first story has a full bathroom and kitchen on the first floor and even a master bedroom.
Zero Step Entry Detail
Home doors and opening or entry points should also be designed wider than standard. Additionally, all entry point should never use steps. Design incline or decline access areas with ramps or slopes. Avoid using steps in the event the homeowners or other household members become wheelchair bound. Even for those who retain an activate life style, slopes are still easier to use versus steps.
Hallway Width for Wheelchair
When designing a home, design the hallways wider as well to provide plenty of room for walkers, wheelchairs and other assistant devices. Along with wider halls also consider installing a railing along the hallway walls. There are a ton of beautiful railing systems that can enhance the look of the home and provide a little extra stability for those who are walking down long hallways.
Other Aging in Place Features
Some other additional features you may want to include when designing your home are:
• Non-Slip Flooring
• Flush Thresholds
• Raised Electrical outlets and Lowered Light Switches or Rocker-Style Electrical Switches
• Bathroom – Wall Rails or Grab Bars, Leveled Showers with Zero Threshold and Shower Seating.
• Good Lighting
• Pull out Shelving and Easily Accessible Storage
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When you are ready to begin designing and building your future retirement home, contact Future Vision Remodeling. We can help design your dream retirement home and provide quality building services. For luxury design and remodeling services, contact Future Vision Remodeling today!