Let’s assume that you’re preparing your property for Southwest Florida’s housing market. You must realize which demographics you’re targeting, i.e., what does your average homebuyer look like? Stats will let you know that the average person looking for a home in the Sunshine State is 60 years old with a median income of over $103k. In fact, the national age of homebuyers is increasing; it has risen from 36 to 38 in the last few years.
If you have a property in Southwest Florida, you must consider equipping it with lots of senior-friendly amenities and facilities to attract the most qualified prospects. Creating a house that’s senior-friendly will promote safety, comfort, independence, and relaxation for older adults. Whether you wish to maximize the comfort of your own aging parents or increase your property’s appeal to buyers, design a living space that meets the unique needs of senior citizens.
If you’re looking for unique ideas to create a safe living space for older adults, we can suggest a few tips, such as the following:
1. Conduct a Home Safety Check
First, you should identify potential hazards that make your property unsafe for seniors. You can inspect your home by:
- Ensuring that every room is well-lit for easy navigation
- Considering high-risk zones like kitchens, bathrooms, staircases, attics, etc.
- Looking for loose rugs, tangled electrical cords, or uneven flooring among other factors that could lead to trips/falls
Remember, the first step is to make your house safe for a senior inhabitant by making these adjustments.
2. Redesign Your Bathroom
Bathrooms often become hazardous due to wet floors and limited space. You can make your home senior-friendly by replacing traditional bathtubs with walk-in tubs. So, get in touch with home remodeling experts like Clear Choice USA of SW FL to improve accessibility for people with mobility issues in your family. These experienced home refurbishing professionals will transform your bathing area into a hub of convenience and stress-free bath time for seniors.
You can also try these unique ideas to create senior-friendly bathrooms on your property:
- Installing raised toilet seats so seniors can sit down and stand up easily
- Widening the bathroom doorway to accommodate wheelchair users
- Putting non-slip mats inside and outside the shower to prevent slips
3. Make Your House Brighter
As stated above, ample lighting makes your house automatically safe for occupants. So, no room in your home should be dimly lit. You can use bulbs with a high-lumen output in rooms. Get a dimmer to adjust lighting levels, making them softer before sunset. Add a motion-sensor lighting system that turns on when someone enters a room. This way, you can keep your house sufficiently illuminated.
Think from a senior citizen’s perspective and you can easily transform your property into a safe space for older adults. Don’t forget to place nightlights in hallways, bedrooms, bathrooms, etc., to guide seniors safely at nighttime.
4. Install Grab Bars and Handrails
It’s a no-brainer that slips and falls are some of the most common reasons why old people get hurt. In fact, official sources claim that 1 in 4 aged persons have fall-related injuries each year. A simple way to minimize these injuries is to add handrails in critical areas of your home. You can install these safety grabbers in the following parts of your house:
- Bathrooms: Next to toilets and inside showers/bathtubs
- Hallways: Handrails in long hallways for extra assistance
- Staircases: Hand rails running along both sides of the staircase
Also, make sure that these grab bars are anchored securely into walls. Heavy-duty wall anchors are also preferred. Don’t forget to choose bars with a textured surface for better grip.
5. Choose Non-Slip Flooring
Continuing with our discussion on slips and falls, some senior people also suffer due to slippery floors. You should choose vinyl or linoleum as the ideal materials for your flooring. These options provide good traction and are also way easier to clean than slippery flooring options. Also, use carpets with low piles. Low-pile options minimize hazards and provide cushioning even if someone somehow trips and falls.
You can also apply non-slip coatings or adhesive strips on existing tiles to further minimize the risk of slipping and falling.
6. Modify Your Kitchen
The kitchen is arguably the first place homebuyers check when they’re deciding whether to buy your house or not. So, you can equip your kitchen with lower countertops so they become easily accessible to wheelchair-bound aged individuals.
Moreover, pull-out shelves & drawers will reduce, if not completely eliminate, the need to bend. This way, senior citizens can access pots and pans without having to put themselves in an uncomfortable position. Organize your pantry in such a way that frequently used items are placed at waist level. Avoid high cabinets that require stepping on stools.
7. Declutter Your Living Space
The best way to make your home senior-friendly is to simply remove clutter. Clutter is bad for health, anyways. Also, it can lead to trips and falls. Decluttered places are easier to navigate. So, you can embark on a mission to declutter your living space by:
- Removing unnecessary furniture from your home.
- Organizing storage areas by using bins or baskets.
- Creating obstacle-free pathways by keeping at least 36 inches of clear space in hallways and between furniture pieces.
8. Create Comfortable Living Areas
Since comfortable spaces are more relaxing and motivate socialization, you should add these elements to your home, too. Here are a few tips:
- Create ergonomic seating arrangements by adding chairs with firm cushions and strong armrests.
- Incorporate tables that can be raised or lowered allowing seniors to eat comfortably whether they’re sitting or standing.
- Steer clear of low sofas or chairs that may be difficult for seniors to get out of without asking for help.
Implement these comprehensive tips to create a safer living environment for senior citizens. It’ll help you maximize the comfort of family elders and enhance the curb appeal of your home.
It’s a proactive approach that doesn’t just improve an aged inhabitant’s quality of life but fosters independence as well. So, you can easily minimize the risks associated with aging while making your home more appealing to qualified buyers at the same time.
