“There’s no place like home” isn’t an immortalized pop culture quote for no reason. The home is where we’re most comfortable and have spent most of our lives. It’s not unusual for retirees to stay at home as they live through their golden years. Even if mobility or memory conditions arise, your home can be a safe and accommodating space with the right renovations. If you’re weighing your options between renovating your home for retirement comfort or moving to a tailored senior community, you’ll want to carefully assess the benefits of aging in place and how to design and decorate your home for comfort and safety.
Benefits of Aging in Your Own Home
Comfort
When you’re at home, you already know your neighbors, have built your favorite reading nook, and have made fond memories. Comfort is already a key feature of your home; you just need to refine it for your future health and mobility needs. When you’re familiar with and comfortable in your home environment, it significantly reduces stress, which can help keep your heart, mind, and body healthy as you age.
Cost-Effective
Nursing homes or assisted living communities can be expensive. Not every retiree has full health insurance coverage for these communities, especially if you prefer an entirely private room or need extra accommodations. Your retirement savings may not cover these additional costs, which can add up to thousands of dollars per month, excluding any other expenses you may incur. While you may need to pay to renovate your home to improve its safety and accessibility as an older adult, it is usually a one-time expense that pays for itself over time.
More Control
When you’re living in a senior community, you’ll often be subject to a set schedule, including meal times. At home, you can eat whenever you’d like and arrange your schedule to meet your needs best. While a set schedule can be helpful and even beneficial for many older adults who need more hands-on care, you can have more control and independence in your daily life when you’re comfortable at home and have caregivers to help you at your own pace. Independence is valuable for older adults, and your home can often be more flexible and accommodating.
Improved Safety
When you’re retiring or aging at home, you have more control over who supervises you, provides medical care, and enters your home. A high-tech security system can help older adults alert caregivers or authorities during medical emergencies and reduce the prevalence of security threats, such as burglaries. Many elder care communities have proactive security, but lapses in staff screening or inadequate staffing can easily result in nursing home neglect or abuse. According to a Peoria nursing home abuse lawyer from the Nursing Home Law Center, around 52% of their nursing homes received below-average Medicare ratings for safety concerns. When you’re at home, you bypass most of the risks of external elder care communities almost entirely. You may still need to hire home caregivers or nurses, but security measures can keep you safer.
Home Design Tips for Retirees
Make the Space Accessible
Even if you have full mobility now, that might change in the future. You’ll want your home to be ready and accessible for any health changes you may experience. Lay out your furniture and floor plan so there are no tight or cramped spaces. Eliminate uneven floors by addressing issues with rugs, cords, or flooring. Ensure stairs, toilets, and bathtubs have accessible handrails. Add chairs or benches to your shower setup for added comfort. Walk-in bathtubs or standing showers can make bathing easier, especially when you add anti-slip mats. Round doorknobs may be harder to grip with age, so consider replacing them with lever handles if applicable. Smart appliances, accessible cabinets, and lower countertops can make cooking in the kitchen much easier. Consider tools like rotating shelves or pull-out drawers to make finding items quick and safe. Motion-sensor lighting can provide extra illumination when you’re on the move.
Improve Your Security System
As you get older, you’ll want to prioritize home security. You may be vulnerable to anyone who can enter your home, so it’s best to err on the side of caution. Motion-detecting cameras and lighting are a good start. Smart security systems with real-time notifications can help you keep track of anything out of the ordinary, including storing footage on your phone or other devices. An alarm system is a smart choice, especially if it automatically alerts the authorities after a set period. Medical alert devices can help keep you safe even if you’re home alone.
Focus on the Main Level
Your ability to climb stairs may be limited in the future. Set up the main floor as your primary residence when the time comes. You’ll want easy access to a bathroom, bedroom, and kitchen for added convenience and peace of mind.
Natural Materials and Warm Colors
Your home should be a comfortable, durable, and healthy environment in which to live. Warm, inviting colors, such as brown, red, yellow, or orange, can help calm you, but you can also choose other colors that evoke a sense of safety. Natural materials, such as wood and stone, can help reduce air pollutants, creating a healthier and more serene environment. They’re also more durable. Materials like plastic or vinyl aren’t as long-lasting and may not provide the comfort you’re looking for.
Add Senior-Friendly Enrichment
You want to be able to enjoy your home for years to come. As you age, your hobbies may evolve or adapt to better suit your lifestyle. Make your home welcome to these changes by incorporating senior-friendly entertainment spaces. A comfortable theater room, an enchanting garden, a cozy reading nook, a low-maintenance pool, or an accessible craft space can help you make the most of your retirement without issue.
Conclusion
Many retirees opt to age in place to save money, maintain their independence, and improve their quality of life. Staying at home has many benefits, and the space can become very accommodating as you age, provided you make accessible and comfortable renovations to support older residents. Reducing tripping hazards, enhancing your security system, and incorporating senior-friendly amenities are among the many upgrades you can implement to retire comfortably at home.
renovating your home for retirement
