I am retiring, what changes can I make in my home?

by Robyn Evans

We all like to think retirement is full of traveling, new hobbies and hanging out with friends. However, it is true that a lot more time will be spent at home. Listening to my parents, their friends and my friends as they retire, I and hearing lots of concern about how their homew function for them: stairs, slippery floors, handles and wheel chair access.

Now that you have retired and have some time on your hands and hopefully some funds saved to make improvements, it is time to look at how your home might need to work better for you. There is a phrase in the real estate world called "age in place." This means that you are choosing to stay where you can as long as you can while living a quality life.

What are your possible health, social and emotional needs as you move into the next phase of life? Look at your home with thoughts in mind of how you will be living there as you are older. Below are some tips from PorchLyte to help guide you.

1. Build your life around the first floor

If you live in a multi-story home, it’s time to quit the stairs and settle living on the first floor alone. This means relocating all amenities on one level, including the master bedroom, bathroom, and laundry area. Depending on the space, you can either build these rooms from scratch or go the more cost-effective route of converting existing rooms on the first floor. Not only will your knees thank you for this, but limiting traffic on just one level will make your home easier to maintain and clean up.

Pro-tip: When relocating your bedroom, choose the quietest area away from traffic noise. This is because as you enter your senior years, it’ll be much harder to sleep deeply. Catch those zzz’s by doing this!

2.Set up a fitness spot

Don’t have a personal gym yet? Now’s the time to dedicate an area for fitness equipment such as a treadmill, yoga mat, and senior-friendly dumbbells. You can do this within the first floor or set it up outdoors to catch some sun while working out.

3. Choose a slip-resistant flooring

Switching from slippery flooring to slip-resistant is your first step to catching yourself from falling over or tripping in the future. Some options include vinyl, linoleum, cork, and carpet. These are also resilient floors, meaning they were engineered for comfort, giving your legs a break from all the other rigid floor choices.

4. Create an accessible entry point

As you age, little things– like climbing two or three steps leading to your front door – suddenly become a daunting task. To ensure that you can step in and out of your house without hassle, you can install a ramp or a gradually-inclined walkway with a handrail. Through this, you will still be able to access your home should you need the help of a wheelchair or walker one day.

While you’re at it, you can widen interior doorways by adding in a few extra inches. To fit a wheelchair, set your target doorway width at 32 inches or higher.

5. Make your bathroom senior-friendly

A couple of upgrades will help you avoid fall-related incidents in the bath. A common tip would be installing grab bars in the shower, toilet area, sink, or other areas where you’d lean on. Plus, you may want to replace a bathtub with a walk-in shower unit with a handheld shower head. This type of shower head gives you more flexibility while you bathe.

6. Invest in tech & security solutions

Does tech freak you out? We sure hope not ‘cause smart home devices would make for valuable upgrades when you retire. If you haven’t heard of the concept, your home becomes a ‘smart home’ when you furnish it with electronic gadgets designed to perform automated tasks when you command it. Lights, heating, door locks, and appliances can be voice-activated. Futuristic, isn’t it?

If you don’t have one yet, you may want to consider setting up a CCTV and an alarm system for you and your property’s protection. Also, don’t be shy in plastering signs that say your home is under constant surveillance. This measure shoos away potential criminals who might take advantage of your vulnerability as an elder.

7. Repaint and redecorate to match your style

Have you always wanted to paint your house a certain color but never did? Don’t let this turn into another ‘what if’ and do it! While it is recommended to choose a calming palette, the color of your forever home will be solely up to you. You can also perform other mini aesthetic projects such as redecorating the living room with plants, spicing up a bland wall with photo frames, and placing fresh flowers in the kitchen.

We hope these tips help you create a home you can enjoy well beyond your retirement years!

Thanks to the team at PorchLyte for the great tips!