Preparing for retirement can mean a lot of things, you can build yourself an emergency fund, complete the requirements for your health insurance and pay off all of your debts. After evaluating and establishing your finances, it is also practical to get ready with all of your other retirement needs. And one of those needs is a home to live in.
Basically, a home should give you safety and comfort, ideally this should be the case when you get older too. You may already be living in the home you plan to spend your retirement in or you might plan to be buy the home of your dreams after retiring. In both cases there are a few things you can do to make your home retirement proof.
What are the things to consider when building a retirement-proof home? Again, the main considerations for a retirement home is that it is safe and comfortable to live in. Here are a few perks that can make your life much easier as you near old age.
Doorways
Mobility is a big issue the older we get, you might have to rely on a wheelchair, or roller, to get around and that is where custom doorways are a blessing. An age-proof home should have doorways that are wider than the standard width to allow accessibility of wheelchairs and to also accommodate mobility scooters. You may also consider wider hallways for convenience and easy movement around your home.
Bathrooms
In senior years, more time will be spent in the bathroom. Thus, bathrooms should be designed to be safe and easy to use. Anti-skid tiling, a non-slip rug and anti-slip coating can address slipping hazards to prevent falls or accidents. You can plan to have sturdy grab bars for easy mobility around the bathroom, should they be necessary. As for the shower, you can consider a larger, level design that can also be used as a wheel-in shower. Maybe integrating a sitting corner if there is enough room.
Elevators
An elevator might sound a little over the top but stairs can become the biggest obstacle to your freedom of movement. Illness, injuries or just aging limbs can make stair lifts or home elevators the only means to move between floors. Stair lifts may cost less than home elevators but they are not much help if you need a wheelchair, also not every staircase is suitable for a stair lift.
However, home elevators make accessibility easier and faster, they can be installed in nearly any location in your home. Unlike stair lifts, home elevators can be decorative in style, have a modern look and add value to your home. You can look into a residential elevator guide to find one that suits your taste and budget. Home elevators also can give your home a higher appraisal or resale value.
Conclusion
No matter how young and agile you feel now, old age will creep upon you. Just like you plan your finances in advance, you can plan your living environment in advance. Everyone wants their home to be a safe and comfortable haven. Even when you are not yet retired, you can start making the necessary changes in advance. All that it needs are a few perks that, done right, can even make your home look trendy.
Who doesn’t want an elevator in their home?
