Home renovations can meet aging needs

by Laura Bednar

As people age, the home they bought decades ago may no longer be accessible. According to a survey by AARP, nearly 90% of people over age 65 want to stay in their home for as long as possible. Practical home improvements may be the solution for those who want to stay in their forever home.

A simple addition for the home interior and exterior is grab bars. Jessica Hiner, owner of House Doctors of Hudson, said grab bars are useful for showers, entrances between a garage and house, front steps, or other transition areas in the home without railings.

Bathroom renovation is a more expensive project, as it is the location of many slip and fall hazards, according to Hiner. Most common is a bathtub to walk-in shower conversion. Jeff Schlekie, owner of Approved Plumbing in Broadview Heights, said his company has installed many walk-in showers with a bench seat. Additionally, Approved Plumbing has also made curbless showers for people with wheelchairs.

“The bathroom is one giant floor that is sloped towards the shower drain,” said Schlekie, adding that this is a more expensive option due to the entire floor redesign.

For those who keep their bathtub, the lever that closes the drain is being replaced by a “touchtoe” system, in which a person can use their foot to push a button and close the drain, reducing stress on the hands. Smaller adjustments, like changing faucets from knobs to levers, also eliminate the constant twisting of wrists.

While higher toilets or toilet seats with handles can be helpful for seniors, Schlekie advised people to ensure the toilet is proportional to the height of the homeowner.

“These [renovations] are life changing,” said Schlekie. “People use their bathroom every day.”

Height also plays a factor in the laundry room, where sinks usually stand on legs at a predetermined height. Schlekie said wall-hung sinks are popular because the homeowner can choose the height of the sink for accessibility.

Seniors who have trouble going up and down stairs can benefit from a “water screamer,” which is installed near floor drains and will make an alarm noise when there is flooding. Instead of venturing to the basement, seniors can immediately hear the alarm. Schlekie said the screamer can connect to a smartphone and the homeowner can turn off the main water shutoff using their phone.

This type of smart technology is useful for other parts of the home as well. Hiner suggested motion sensor lights on the exterior of the home and Ring doorbell cameras as safety items for seniors at home. She also said there are smart door locks that allow doors to be opened using a smartphone “if someone forgets their keys.”

Hiner said other things her company looks for during its free home assessment review includes walkways (Are they level and appropriately lit?), doorways (Are they wide enough for a wheelchair?) and counter spaces in the kitchen (Are counters at an accessible height?).

“We look for what could be the improvements for a person based on their limitations,” said Hiner.

Though the company hasn’t seen many ramp installations on the front of the home, Hiner said she anticipates seeing an increase as House Doctors continues these assessments.

Her advice to homeowners: “Plan for [renovations] and do it all at once as you age. Then you aren’t overwhelmed [by having to do it] after recovering from a fall, etc.” ∞