In the ongoing march of time, the dream home that was perfectly suited for the hustle and bustle of a family may present challenges for aging residents, requiring far more maintenance. A big-enough-care-about thing these days is the term aging in place—referring to living on one’s own, independently, for as long as one wishes, in one’s own residence. It is more about proactively keeping comfort, autonomy, and quality of living intact. The good news: Making a home future-ready seldom entails breaking it down and starting from scratch. More often than not, it is a matter of making some thoughtful changes to make room for greater accessibility, safety, and ease in living, so the home sustains you on through to the years of prime.
Accessibility is usually most big up for aging in place in areas that are heavily trafficked and right at the entrances. Often the smallest tweaks can have enormous consequences. For instance, doorways should be checked for a minimum width of 36 inches if they need to fit the use of walkers and wheelchairs. It is one practically easy update that greatly improves inside flexibility. Another little fix for a huge difference could be changing standard doorknobs with lever handles that are simpler to use for people with arthritis or restricted grip strength. This is something also worth checking out: exchanging tubs that require stepping in with curbless walk-in showers to greatly mitigate slip-and-fall incidents, which are typically the biggest concerns for anyone aging. Installing grab bars throughout the bathroom, in particular beside toilets, and in showers will help provide that additional support and security needed.
Good lighting and smart technology can further fuse into the creating of a safe and comfortable environment. Adequate light is a must for safely moving through an area, especially during the night or when shadows loom there. Provide general brighter illumination for hallways, stairwells, and kitchens. Consider light fixtures with motion sensors in the bathroom or near entrance doors, so there is no scrambling for light switches in the dark. Then, beyond illumination, smart home technology is where the real convenience and safety are. Voice-activated lights, smart thermostats, automated blinds; just talk and they respond, no need to stretch, or strain. These technologies make life easier and provide reassurance to the residents plus their families.
Making a house efficient and comfortable further supports aging in place. In general, older houses, though showing lovely charm, can be drafty, resulting in unequal temperatures and bigger energy-bills. Modern, energy-efficient upgrades will assure the house remains equally warm or cool all year long. Taking that one step forward and considering installing new windows in Calgary would be great, as the weather here does not always cooperate. With proper insulation technique, high-performance windows cut down on heat loss during the cold months and keep excessive heat out during summer, so there will be no more drafts and a more constant and agreeable room temperature in-house. The sound-lowering ability machine of those windows will help loud clamor surrounding your environment, and they might come with easier locking mechanisms. Other than the windows, having updates heating and cooling systems will also contribute largely to the comfort of each day in use.
Last but certainly not least, a good organizing and decluttering strategy is the least considered yet very useful. Clutter increases the chance of falling and slows one down when trying to find his/her items. Proper storage with a height that a homeowner could reach without any trouble is highly effective: somewhat pulling out shelves from the pantry, pull-out drawers in the kitchen, or lower counters. Other small yet important steps would include certain clutter-free walkways, taking out tiny rugs that can slip, and ensuring all the furniture is stable and does not block anyone’s movement. At the heart of the aging-in-place transformation of the home, the heed is one act of foresight and care—the taking of a loved home and making it into a give-and-take kind of refuge in which the residents can flourish and live independently with ease and happiness for years.