What exactly does it mean to future-proof your home? In reality, this concept is designing a home now that can serve you well in the future as you age.
This is something people often don’t think about until they need it, and then suddenly those steep stairs become a massive issue, or those doorways can’t accommodate mobility tools with ease, and you’re plunged into a problem that needs fixing fast.
The smart way to avoid this is to design a home with accessibility in mind so you can accommodate your life and health as you age and deliver exactly what you need if you find your mobility changes in your senior years.
Let’s take a look at some features you can include in your home design now that will serve you well in the future.
Wider Doors and Easier Handles
It sounds insignificant, but if you’re renovating your home or you’re wanting to make changes that work, starting with widening doorways will always be a good idea. Even just a few centimetres wider can make all the difference, as can moving or changing handles so they’re easier to use too.
Swapping door knobs for handles you can push on or even having sliding doors you can pull open that slot into the wall can work, lowering handles is also a good idea too, so if you end up needing a wheelchair, you can still gain access to rooms independently.
Stairlifts and Access
Stairs are where independence can be made or lost. If you’re unable to gain access to the above-ground levels in your home, it won’t be long before you feel trapped. And many families leave things too late. When improving your home, consider potential accessibility needs in relation to the stairs. Make sure your staircase can accommodate stairlifts with ease, or even have one installed ahead of time, so it’s not something to install last-minute.
You can get straight curved or outdoor stair lifts that work for you at home, giving you indoor and outdoor access. But if you don’t want to install a stair lift right away, ensuring that any changes or modifications you make to your staircase allow for the addition of one is a good consideration to make.
Bathrooms That Work
Accessible bathrooms are essential for everyone, and when you undertake a bathroom refit, considering future needs, you can implement a design that works for you now and any potential changes to health and physical limitations that you might experience in the future.
Walk-in showers remove steps, making it easier to get showered. A shower seat or ledge will also be a good idea to think about, so you can sit in the shower. Enough space to navigate the toilet is something to think about, as adding in rails or reinforced walls so you can install grab rails in the future can be a good starting point.
Small Details That Help
Not every change in your home needs to be a full remodel; sometimes you just need to change the small details. It could be changing light bulbs to increase lighting throughout the home or adding more lights to brighten up darker spaces. Or it’s moving the sockets up so they’re not at ankle height, removing the need to bend down to access the socket. Pull-out storage works better than lift-up storage or storage that requires standing on ladders to access. These are all small details that don’t mean much now but could make a difference in the future.
