Aging in Place

Many homeowners age 50 and older say that they want to “age in place,” but the reality is that many homes were not built to accommodate the needs of older people. If you want to remain in your house during your golden years, you may need to do some home remodeling. Fortunately, there are modifications you can make to your home to accommodate yourself as you age. And, they will be easier to make before you actually need them. Features like no-step entries and a first floor bedroom and full bathroom can keep you in your home as you age.

Bathrooms can be remodeled to accommodate wheelchairs with curbless showers with grab bars and high-seat toilets. Narrow doorways can be widened to accommodate wheelchairs. The sidewalk and steps leading to the front door can be replaced with a ramp for wheelchairs. If you or your spouse are not using wheelchairs, replacing deep-pile carpet with low-pile carpet or installing no slip flooring to prevent falls can help to make your home safer as you age.

If you’re caring for aging parents, you may have noticed that one thing that makes staying in your home as you age difficult is all the upkeep: To reduce maintenance, you can install quartz countertops which are stain resistant and never need sealing, and LED lights which last longer. Replacing fixed shelves with roll-out shelves means no need to bend over, and retrofitting upper cabinets with pull-down shelving units means avoiding lifting heavy items.

Small changes like adding lights to the front of our home and along the sidewalk to you can see at night and a bench by the front door so you can rest can make a difference. If you’re thinking of remaining in your home in your golden years, it could be beneficial to consider the necessary alternations before they become necessary. Features like no-step entries and first floor bedrooms can make your home more livable as you age.

If you’re thinking of how to change your home to fit your needs as you age, you understand the importance of planning. Just like your house, your financial plan needs to be ready for when you retire. The professionals at Epstein & White can help you create a comprehensive retirement plan that takes your unique needs into account. Click here to schedule you no cost, no obligation financial review today.

Epstein & White is a tradename. All services provided by Epstein & White investment professionals are provided in their individual capacities as investment adviser representatives of Mercer Global Advisors Inc. (“Mercer Advisors”), an SEC registered investment adviser principally located in Denver, Colorado, with various branch offices throughout the United States doing business under different tradenames, including Epstein & White. Information contained herein is for informational and illustrative purposes only and general in nature. It should not be considered investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any type of securities or insurance products and no investment decision should be made based solely on any information provided herein. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Diversification and asset allocation does not ensure a profit or guarantee against loss. We provide this information with the understanding that we are not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or tax services. We recommend that all investors seek out the services of competent professionals in any of the aforementioned areas.