Housing Improvements for Senior Citizens

A recent survey conducted by the American Association for Retired Persons (AARP) revealed important information about the improvements seniors make to improve the livability of their homes. The fact is most people don’t want to leave their homes if they can maintain their independence. Many times, that involves making modification to their homes to create a more convenient environment. As quoted below, here are the Top 10 things those surveyed, did to their homes to maintain an independent lifestyle. That is not to say it’s for everyone, but we figure it’s best to share the knowledge and learn from those who have done it before to improve their living conditions

The top 10 home improvements reported were:

    Levered doorknobs.

    Grab bars in bathrooms.

    Levered faucets in kitchen sinks.

    Handrails on both sides of stairwells and on front and rear steps.

    Grab bars in showers; removal of any door threshold.

    Movable shower heads for those who must sit.

    Portable shower seats.

    A bathroom with a bath/shower as well as a bedroom on the first floor.

    Widened doors to accommodate wheelchairs.

    Ramps for those using walkers and wheelchairs.

Seniors spend billions of dollars each year on home improvements. If you are planning on making repairs or improvements to your home it is important to know how to pick the best contractor, and choose the financing that's right for you. AARP has developed extensive resources on home modifications, to obtain this information visit AARP. An important thing is to not only trust the person who is doing your work, but also to know that they are competent. That’s why references from people you know are very important. Many of the above improvements can be accomplished by a skilled handyperson, but if a contractor is needed, make sure they are licensed and remember that AARP can help you in this area.