In the USA, approximately 4 million adults aged 65 or older struggle with home features that don’t support their changing needs as they age. For people who want to remain in a home they love during their golden years, preparing the home with a remodel for aging in place is often the best way to retain their independence while also providing for their changing needs.
Lamont Bros. is a leading Pacific Northwest design-build firm with proven expertise in aging in place remodeling, regularly helping homeowners seamlessly integrate accessibility features throughout their home renovation projects.
In this article, we will explore practical remodeling advice to help you retain your safety, comfort, and independence in your own home. From bathroom upgrades to safe mobility renovations, we’ll cover several aspects of home design with a keen eye on accessibility. You can use this information to plan how to remodel so that you or your loved ones are prepared for aging in place. The topics we’ll discuss include:
What is “Aging in Place?”
Aging in place is the ability to live safely, independently, and comfortably in your own home as you grow older, regardless of age or physical limitations. Rather than moving to assisted living facilities, aging in place allows seniors to remain in familiar surroundings while adapting their homes to meet changing needs.
Why Aging in Place Matters
As people age, everyday activities can become challenging and risky:
- Bathroom safety: Showers and bathtubs pose increased fall risks
- Mobility issues: Standing up from toilets becomes more difficult
- Daily tasks: Personal hygiene may require caregiver assistance
- Home accessibility: Standard home features become barriers over time
What is Aging in Place Remodeling?
Aging in place remodeling means modifying your home to support independent living as you age. This involves strategic home improvements that:
- Reduce safety hazards
- Improve accessibility
- Accommodate mobility restrictions
- Support daily living activities
Key Takeaways
✓ Aging in place lets you stay in your beloved home during your golden years
✓ Home modifications can prevent accidents and maintain independence
✓ Every person's needs are different - solutions should be customized
✓ Early planning helps identify the most impactful changes
✓ Professional assessment ensures modifications meet current and future needs
Common Aging in Place Modifications
- Bathroom safety features (grab bars, curbless showers)
- Kitchen accessibility upgrades
- Wider doorways for mobility devices
- Improved lighting throughout the home
- Non-slip flooring surfaces
- Lever-style door handles and faucets
The goal of aging in place design is identifying which home changes will empower you to live independently and safely for as long as possible.
How to Approach Aging in Place Remodeling
Aging in place remodeling requires a thoughtful, strategic approach that balances immediate safety needs with long-term accessibility planning. The key is creating a home environment that adapts to changing physical abilities while maintaining comfort and independence.
The Three-Phase Approach to Aging in Place Design
Phase 1: Safety First Start with essential safety modifications that reduce fall risk and improve daily navigation. This includes grab bars, improved lighting, and non-slip surfaces—changes that provide immediate benefits with relatively modest investment.
Phase 2: Accessibility Improvements Focus on modifications that accommodate mobility devices and make daily tasks easier. Widening doorways, installing curbless showers, and upgrading kitchen accessibility fall into this category.
Phase 3: Long-Term Independence Plan for future needs with features like smart home technology, universal design elements, and structural modifications that support aging in place for years to come.
Key Principles for Successful Aging in Place Remodeling
- Universal design benefits everyone - Features that help seniors often improve convenience for all family members
- Early planning prevents emergency modifications - Proactive changes are more cost-effective than reactive ones
- Professional guidance ensures optimal results - Working with experienced aging in place contractors helps identify the most impactful modifications
- Customization is essential - Every homeowner's needs are different, requiring personalized solutions
The following sections will explore specific areas of your home where aging in place design can make the biggest impact on safety, comfort, and independence.
Aging in Place Bathroom Design
The bathroom is often the most critical area to address in any aging in place remodeling project. Bathrooms present unique challenges with their compact layouts, hard surfaces, and wet conditions that can create safety hazards as we age.
Successful aging in place bathroom design focuses on eliminating hazards while preserving dignity and privacy. From preventing slips and falls to ensuring easy access for mobility devices, thoughtful bathroom modifications can make the difference between staying safely at home or needing assisted care.
For comprehensive guidance on bathroom modifications, explore our detailed resources on how to remodel a bathroom for aging in place and discover inspiring aging in place bathroom design ideas that combine safety with style.
Here are the key elements to consider when creating an aging in place bathroom:
Accessibility
When planning for aging in place, the bathroom often tops the list for remodeling, and for good reason. It’s a space where privacy, independence, and safety intersect. As we age, the bathroom can become challenging due to its traditionally compact layout and slippery surfaces. Here are a few common features when remodeling a bathroom for aging in place:
Zero-Threshold Showers for Safe Access
According to the National Institute on Aging, 80% of fall-related injuries occur in the bathroom. This is why one of the most impactful bathroom modifications when it comes to safety is a zero-threshold shower.
This type of shower eliminates the step or barrier that traditional tubs and showers present, making access much easier and safer. Especially for those with mobility concerns or who use wheelchairs, this feature can provide much greater ease of access to the shower.
Chair Height Toilets and Lever Faucets for Ergonomic Use
Comfort and ease of use are critical in bathroom design for aging adults. Chair-height toilets are slightly taller than standard toilets, making sitting down and standing up much easier, on the leg muscles. This is particularly true for those with limited mobility.
Similarly, lever faucets are often a great option for homeowners with arthritis, tremors, or other conditions that affect hand coordination. Levers are much easier to operate than traditional knobs, which require more grip strength and finger dexterity.
Installing Grab Bars and Non-Slip Surfaces
Maintaining balance and avoiding falls in the bathroom is non-negotiable. This is why part of a good aging-in-place remodel involves installing grab bars in strategic locations. This may include near the toilet, shower, and bathtub – providing balance and support where it’s most needed.
Non-slip surfaces in the shower and on the bathroom floor are also very important. While some people simply lay non-slip mats on the ground, even these can present a tripping hazard. That’s why we prefer to install flooring material and shower pans that have non-slip features built in.
Aging in Place Kitchen Design
The kitchen serves as the heart of the home, making it essential that this space remains functional and safe as homeowners age. Kitchen tasks involve frequent movement, lifting, reaching, and coordination—activities that can become challenging with age-related changes in mobility, strength, and dexterity.
Effective aging in place kitchen design focuses on reducing physical strain while maintaining the joy and independence of cooking and meal preparation. Smart modifications can eliminate common hazards, improve accessibility, and ensure the kitchen continues to be a welcoming gathering space for family and friends.
The key is creating ergonomic solutions that work for everyone in the household while anticipating future needs. Here are the essential elements to consider when designing a kitchen for aging in place:
Kitchen Ergonomics & Safety
The kitchen requires careful consideration for storage access and mobility when remodeling for aging in place. As physical needs with age, the kitchen must adapt to continue being a space of functionality and independence.
Customizing Cabinets for Accessibility
One of the first elements we address during an aging-in-place remodel is the accessibility of cabinets. Specifically, cabinet inserts and custom storage solutions can make a significant difference in how a person interacts with their kitchen as they age.
For example, roll-out shelves and drawers can help reduce uncomfortable bending and reaching. Specialty features, such as built-in mixer lifts, allow homeowners to continue using their kitchens to the fullest without having to lift cumbersome appliances. In other cases, cabinets with open space below may accommodate wheelchairs or mobility devices for better access to kitchen workspaces.
Countertops and Workstation Sinks: Balancing Function with Comfort
Countertops and sinks can also be made more suitable for homeowner’s needs as they age. We sometimes recommend countertops with varied heights to suit different tasks and mobility needs, especially in homes where one family member uses a wheelchair.
Workstation sinks are another excellent choice for aging-in-place remodeling, offering several advantages over traditional sinks. A workstation sink is designed with functionality in mind, often featuring built-in accessories like cutting boards, colanders, and drying racks.
The ergonomic design of workstation sinks makes them more accessible, as they often have a more comfortable height and depth. This design consideration reduces strain on the back and arms, making kitchen tasks easier and safer for older adults.
As with bathrooms, lever faucets rather than knobs can further enhance the sink for users with limited dexterity or grip strength.
Safe Cooking Solutions
Cooking safety takes on a new level of importance as people age. Reducing the risk of burns and fire can pose a challenge when designing a kitchen for aging in place. Here are a few things to keep in mind.
For people who may be prone to forgetfulness as they get older, induction cooktops can be a wise investment for safety and practicality. Because induction cooktops use electromagnetic energy rather than radiant heat, their surfaces remain cool to the touch even when in use. This can greatly reduce the risk of injury or fire if a person forgets to turn off the stove. Their easy-to-clean surfaces also mean less strain during cleaning, a small but important consideration for daily convenience and safety.
In addition, selecting an oven with controls on the front panel rather than the back wall can prevent a person from having to reach over hot surfaces, further reducing the risk of burn injury.
The Importance of Ergonomic Design
Ergonomics refers to the study and design of equipment, spaces, and systems that fit the people who use them. These small yet impactful modifications ensure the kitchen remains a functional and efficient space, no matter the age.
There are a wide variety of features that may enhance the ergonomic design of a kitchen depending on the homeowner’s needs. Easy-to-grip handles tend to work better than knobs on cabinets and drawers. It’s also a good practice to strategically locate storage for frequently used utensils and appliances within easy reach of a centralized workstation. All of these features can substantially reduce the strain on the body while cooking.
Whole-Home Aging in Place Modifications: Beyond the Kitchen and Bathroom
Adapting the home for aging in place involves more than just remodeling specific rooms like the bathroom or kitchen. It also involves considering the entire living space as a whole, making it more accessible, safe, and comfortable. Here are some key features that can ensure that the entire home meets the evolving needs of a homeowner as they age.
Widen Doorways and Hallways for Improved Mobility
Mobility is a central aspect of aging in place. One modification to consider is the widening of doorways and hallways. Doing so makes the home more accessible to walkers, wheelchairs, and medical equipment. Although this can sometimes be expensive and involves reframing areas of the home, it can significantly enhance the ease of moving around, ensuring that every part of the home remains reachable and usable.
Smart Home Features for Convenience and Safety
Technology plays a significant role in modern aging-in-place designs. Smart home features like automated lighting, voice-activated controls, and security systems can give homeowners more control over their environment without requiring them to learn a complicated new system.
Voice-controlled smart home technologies and monitoring systems not only help individuals maintain their independence but also provide peace of mind for both the homeowner and their loved ones.
Flooring and Lighting: Essential for Visibility and Movement
Consistency in flooring is essential to prevent tripping hazards. We recommend smooth transitions between different types of flooring rather than raised T-molds or transition strips. Rugs and carpets can also be potential trip hazards.
If considering a new floor for your home, one important factor to keep in mind is the Dynamic Coefficient of Friction (DCOF). DCOF measures how slippery a floor surface is when it’s in contact with a moving foot. It’s a critical factor to consider for safety, especially in homes where older adults reside. A higher DCOF means that the floor surface offers more resistance against slipping, which is crucial in preventing falls.
In addition non-slip flooring, good lighting throughout the home also promotes safety and accessibility. Adequate lighting improves visibility, helping to prevent accidents and making daily tasks easier and safer.
Tailoring Modifications to Individual Needs
Working with a talented designer means your aging-in-place house plans will be specifically tailored to your need. Some may require more extensive modifications, like installing stairlifts or elevators, while others might benefit more from simpler changes, like improved lighting, grab bars, and zero-threshold showers.
For this reason, it’s important to work with a professional designer who understands how to translate your current and future needs as a homeowner into an actionable design plan.
Remodel Your Home for Aging in Place
As we mentioned, Lamont Bros. is a leading Pacific Northwest design-build firm with proven expertise in aging in place remodeling, regularly helping homeowners seamlessly integrate accessibility features throughout their home renovation projects. Whether you're looking to update a kitchen, bathroom, or whole home, our team is here to help. Meet with one of our design consultants to get started.
