The “baby boomers,” born between 1946 and 1964, are currently in their 50s, 60s, and 70s. There are about 76 million of them in the U.S. and as they age, are they going to stay in the home they’re used to or move into senior homes/nursing homes?
What is Aging in Place?
For many baby boomers, “aging in place” is a concept they’ll be considering in the years to come. Aging in place basically means a person does what they can to stay in the house or apartment of their choice for as long as they can with the comforts that matter to them.
How Home Contractors Can Help
You probably know some people who vow never to “go into a home,” because they truly want to stay where they are– they’re happy in their current home. That said, there might need to be some changes to their existing home if they’re to remain there into old age. For instance, adding “grab bars” to the bathroom or replacing steps with a ramp are two ways to “retrofit” a place for aging in place purposes. Others may choose to move into newer housing, built by builders like Scott Merle, which are specifically designed with the aging in place concept in mind.
The older a person gets, the more likely they are to have poorer eyesight/hearing, reduced muscle mass (less strength), decreased mobility/flexibility, and less energy overall. They may end up using a walker or spend most of their day in a wheelchair. It gets harder to open doors and cupboards. Their balance can become unsteady. If there aren’t enough lights in the room, it’s easier to trip and fall and hurt themselves.
So, what makes aging in place homes distinct? They’re typically single-level designs with wide hallways and doorways for easy wheelchair access. Shelving might be pull-out/pull-down. Counters are multi-leveled. Faucets are twist-free. Door handles are levers. Floors are designed to be slip resistant. Blinds and windows are remote controlled. Moreover, ideally, there’s an open floor plan so the aging in place house doesn’t feel cramped.
Are you interested in aging in place? Contact Central New York’s Scott Merle Builders at 315-409-4124 to talk about having a custom home built for your retirement years.