The Wall Street Journal recently ran a piece about strategies for quickly — and inexpensively — renovating a home to make it better suited for aging in place. AgePros was intrigued. The WSJ is better known for its sumptuous Mansion Section. Below you’ll find how your clients can make quick, smart fixes for a long term challent. Aging in place is best supported through smart fixes for aging in place that adapt the home environment.
Still, it’s easy to see why the publication took on the subject:
- 95% of respondents to a 2024 U.S. News survey say that aging in place is an important goal
- The national average for aging in placerenovations ranges from $3,000 to $15,000, but smart fixes for aging in place often cost much less.
- According to a Pew Research article, Most older adults who live at home want to age in place, but they aren’t entirely confident they’ll get to
Aging in Place. Quality of life and size of budget. Prioritizing makes all the difference.
Two of the biggest challenges older adults face are falls and coming home from the hospital. Maintaining independence after either — or when the former principates the latter — is often a real challenge. The WSJ article had what we think are some smart thoughts for aging in place, including practical changes and smart fixes for aging in place that improve safety and accessibility.
- Remove throw rugs
- Use color contrast tape to highlight the edges of furniture and the location of stairs
- Replace traditional hinges with off-set hinges that leave a wider doorway to walk through (a huge help when comes to getting into a bathroom or kitchen with a walker or wheelchair)
A little more on bathrooms.
When it comes to prepping a bathroom for ease and access, here are a couple of additional suggestion:
- Install a hand-held shower
- Install a small shower bench
Both items are readily available. Which is the idea behind these easy to take steps. Furthermore, smart fixes for aging in place are often inexpensive and very effective. According to the WSJ, these improvements can be made for roughly $1500 and take only a few weeks. Obviously, the expense and timing will vary. What won’t are the benefits these simple renovations can bring the older folks and families you work with.
Aging in place. Is it a trend or is it a movement?
A few months back we blogged about trends in the aging industry. Aging in place comes a close second to the gap between seniors and the number of AgePros available to serve their needs. So when exactly does a trend become a movement and what exactly does that mean for AgePros? We’d love to hear your thoughts. Email us.
