With Canada’s population aging faster than ever, more homeowners are becoming increasingly interested in senior and accessibility focused design and renovations. Such renovations ensure the property is easy to navigate as we age, reducing risks within the home and accommodating common challenges faced by those with mobility concerns. If you’re one of the many Canadians looking to “age in place”, below are a few tips, as well as areas of the home that you’ll want to keep in mind.
What Makes A Home Accessible?
Do you know how accessible your home is? If you haven’t stopped to think about the many ways your property could pose challenges to you as you age, or in the event of a mobility reducing accident, you’re not alone. While senior and accessibility friendly housing is on the rise, it’s not usual for most homeowners to begin considering such renovations to their current home until later on, when certain aspects become more personally relevant. At the core, senior friendly and accessibility minded design serve an incredibly important purpose; as the names suggest, homes designed with both aspects in mind ensure that all areas of the house are easy and safe to navigate, regardless of challenges that mobility impaired occupants may face. This involves taking stock of the overall layout of the home, analyzing any areas that could pose a challenge, and producing an adaptive design that creates an easier way of life for occupants.
Accessibility and senior friendly housing not only serves to benefit current occupants, but also stands to help increase the value of the property upon resale. This can have immense benefits for homeowners who start planning such senior home renovations early on.
Where To Start
Every home will present a unique set of accessibility challenges for seniors and mobility limited occupants. From houses with steep stairs, to areas with poor lighting, uneven flooring and more, there are plenty of details to keep in mind. Working alongside an experienced contracting team will make it easy to discover what areas of your home need immediate attention, as well as spaces that should be considered down the line. Common starting points include:
Kitchens
Kitchens can pose several challenges to mobility reduced occupants. Adding extra navigation space, lowering cabinets, including non slip flooring, and upgrading your lighting makes meal preparation safe and easy.
Bathrooms
Bathrooms can be one of the most dangerous areas of the home when it comes to slips and falls. Adding stability bars, better lighting, easily accessible storage space, and proper flooring can help reduce risk.
Master Suites
An accessible bedroom is a key part of maintaining quality of life for many seniors. Accessible friendly design can focus on lowered light switches or touch less lighting controls, cushioned flooring, and stability bars near the bed.
Designing The Perfect Home For the Future
With a little foresight, planning for the future doesn’t have to feel like a hassle. The Peak Improvements team is pleased to work alongside our clients to create the perfect home for today, tomorrow, and well into the future. Contact us now to learn more!