Planning for Future Needs with Aging in Place Homes

An aging in place home requires careful consideration of design elements in order to be age-friendly. These exterior design elements are considered most important:

• No-step entry: At least one step-free entrance should be accessible so that everyone, including wheelchair users, can enter the home easily and safely.
• Lighting: Adequate lighting will help illuminate walkways and assist residents in identifying obstacles. An automatic light at the main entrance is great for safety concerns.
• Landscaping: Keep shrubs, bushes and trees cut back on both sides of sidewalks and steps.
• Low maintenance exterior: Use materials such as vinyl or brick

Modifications within the interior of an aging in place home is essential to the design. While this list is not all inclusive, it provides some important updates that can make your aging in place home comfortable and safe:

• Widen doorways and halls: Wider doorways and hallways are great for families with varying nobilities, making it a must for any aging in place home.
• One floor living: Ranch style homes are ideal and convenient for aging in place. As residents age, using the stairs can become difficult and dangerous.
• Wheelchair considerations: Controls, switches, thermostats etc. should be easily accessible for someone that is in a wheelchair.
• Cabinets: Adding pull out shelves to lower cabinets and pull down shelves to upper cabinets can greatly reduce the strain of reaching for essentials.
• Easy to use handles: Twist and turn doorknobs can be aggravating to use. Switch out doorknobs and faucets with lever-style handles for better ease of use.
• Safety Features: Grab bars and anti-skid bathtubs are just some of the safety features that aging in place homes should add.

If you are interested in renovating or building an aging in place home, Baldwin Architectural Group can help. Fill out our online contact form or call us at 404-406-9041 to schedule a consultation.