Real Estate: A Senior Friendly Home Environment

Specific adaptations for creating a "Senior Friendly" Home Environment

Overall Considerations:

NO steps from garage to house.
NO steps from front porch or patio into the house.
Door handles -- levers instead of knobs.
Floors that are not highly shined (which can cause glare or be slippery when wet).
Floors that don’t show much dirt.
Senior/comfort height toilets and counter tops.
If carpeting is used, dense, low pile should be the choice.
Consider using pressure mats, passive photoelectric sensors, or switch sensors, rather than motion detectors, which can interfere with hearing aids.
Because alarms and doorbells are usually high in frequency, a buzzer is usually a better signaling device.
Heating system should be designed to avoid the need for space heaters.
Lamps with easy on/off switches (typical knobs are difficult for aging hands). Touch lamps are especially helpful in the bedroom.
Avoid placing extension cords across walking paths.

Room Specific Considerations:

Master Bath:

No garden tub -- instead, consider adding a make-up table and/or shoe closet (roll out), or a sturdy arm chair for dressing.
Bathtubs are highly dangerous areas for seniors. Many senior falls in the bathroom are related to getting in and out of the bathtub. Showers are ideal! However, if a tub is the only choice, install several grab bars, use grip mats in the bottom of the tub, purchase a bath bench to put across the tub, and install a hand held shower head.
Shower -- raised, wide seat, grab bars, and shower stall sized for easy cleaning (not too big, yet big enough for ease of movement).
Senior/comfort height toilets and bathroom counters.

Kitchen:

Every work surface should be well illuminated by task appropriate and/or general lighting.
Lots of lighting in kitchen -- under-cabinet lights and can lights,in addition to florescent lights.
Be aware of the height and build of cabinets for storage -- for example, install roll out shelves.
Pantry should not be too deep -- too difficult to effectively utilize space.
Shelves should be shallow for easy viewing and reach.
Oven -- both small and large oven in same unit (day to day cooking, smaller, higher oven is used. Lower, larger oven can be used if assistance is available for lifting).
Large dials on stove.
Space for recyclables.
A u-shaped galley kitchen is ideal (food can be slid along the counters rather than having to be carried).
Easily operated microwave.
Lever style faucet on the sink.
Garbage disposal and trash compactor to eliminate trips to carry out trash.
Ovens should have pull out racks.
Kitchens should be planned so that a sturdy stool with a back is easily available,
for resting when fatigued.

Bedrooms:

Large bedroom upstairs to accommodate guests with ease. King beds in all rooms (if you have grandchildren, it will be easy to put up a port-a-crib, sleeping bags, or pull out sleeper sofas).
Large closets – with easily accessible storage.
Master bedroom on main level.
Senior friendly bed height.
Adequate night light.
Room beside the bed for commode or wheelchair if necessary.
Sturdy arm chair for dressing.

Patio:

Patios are a better choice then decks. Decks are high maintenance since they require staining and painting, are susceptible to rotting, and are generally slick when wet.
Look for a lot or patio that facilitates privacy.
Utilize low maintenance furniture that can remain outside year round.

Elevator:

If you are considering whether to add an elevator to your current residence or incorporating one in new construction look at the possibilities of:

Eliminating or decreasing the size of a closet or pantry to make room for the elevator.
Utilizing a dead corner of an upstairs landing.
Making the elevator wheelchair accessible.
Using an upstairs closet for storage space becomes feasible when items can be easily moved downstairs by the use of the elevator.