Smart Senior

Do you really need to remodel your house? Your home is your
sanctuary and should remain so for a long as you want to live there.  Most adults over 45 want to stay in their
present home and never have to move. 
Unfortunately most homes are built on the Peter Pan principle, which
assumes that you and your lifestyle will never change.

This is an unfortunate
principle because many age-related changes
occur in the second half of life. If your goal is to remain in your present
home as long as possible, you will want do some judicious planning in order to
turn that dream into a reality.

 How do you decide if your goal is realistic or
not?  What changes to you need to make in
order to create the safest, most accessible, and most comfortable home
possible?  Will the house you live in
right now allow you to live
independently, even if you become incapacitated in some way?  Do live in an area that has all kinds of
services and amenities nearby?  How well
will your house work if you, or aging family members, are having health or
mobility issues?

 People are staying healthier and living longer
but you can’t bank on health, mobility, and visual acuity to remain the same.  How well you adapt to change will determine how long you are going to get to
stay in your own home.  Ideally you can
make changes now that make life easier tomorrow.   If you hesitate because you think remodeling will cost too much money,
try to factor in what it will cost you emotionally and financially to move
elsewhere.

Most of us like to believe
that illness and disability only happen to other people, but sooner or later we
need to face the reality that we could very well be coping with some sort of disability.  The main obstacle to continuing on in your
own home is the house itself.  It is much
more difficult to make and adapt to changes during a time of crisis. It is the
simple everyday tasks that will trip you up. 
Tasks such as getting into and out of a bathroom or going up and down
stairs are what you need to focus on.

 Do a walk-through and assess your house for accessibility, safety, comfort and
style. Look at every feature to determine how well your house suits your
current needs and what would be involved in adapting it to any changes. If you
have never undertaken a major remodeling job you might want to hire a
professional who is well versed in universal
design.