As you pass the age of 50, your years are filled with accomplishments: retiring, raising your children to be independent adults, etc. This period of life is meant to be enjoyed; after working hard for many years, you can focus on your passions, hobbies, and next set of goals.
However, oftentimes the home you’ve lived in for 15, 20, or 30 years isn’t suited to your current needs. After all, thinking and talking about “aging in place” has only gained popularity in the public over the past few years.
It’s important to make your comfort and goals the priority in this life stage, and making changes to your living situation is one of the most impactful ways to do so. It can be difficult to decide when your current dwelling is no longer conducive to your life, but informing yourself of the opportunities available to you will help you to make the best decisions for your future.
You don’t have to wait for something to be “wrong” to plan for the future. However, it can be hard to predict when your current living situation will no longer be right for you. Here are some signs that it’s time to make a change:
Bathrooms with low toilets and high tubs, tight kitchens with tall cabinets, and lots of stairs can make completing daily activities exhausting or nearly impossible, depending on your health.
Slippery floors, few railings, and other hazards can make your home dangerous; even more so when you’re alone.
Your friends and family may have moved away over time, leaving you with few close companions in your area. It can be difficult in old age to forge new relationships and stay involved in your community when you have health challenges, but companionship is critical to your well-being.
If you find yourself ready to make changes in your life that embrace your evolving needs and design a life that will enable you to thrive for years to come – your living situation is a great place to start (or continue) that journey.
See also: Revamping your Kitchen for a Comfortable Future: Aging in Place Kitchen Guide
This is a brand-new stage of life, so it will require time, research, and much consideration to find the right path for you.
These days, there are so many ways to modify your home to suit your needs (and have care come to you), as well as many kinds of communities. Look into the remodeling opportunities that would make sense for your needs, as well as what’s available in the area you’d like to live.
There will be benefits and drawbacks to each kind of living situation; it’s important to consider cost, the impact on your well-being, and how sustainable the situation is a few years down the road and beyond.
The earlier you start preparing for your future, the better the outcome will be. If it’s your dream to stay in your home, start planning how you can remodel your home to make that a reality.
See also: Kitchen and Bath Design: Blending Functionality with Aesthetics During Your Remodel
If you’re wondering whether you should stay in your current home, ask yourself these five questions:
Remaining in your current home allows you to keep your daily patterns and routines, proximity to friends and family, and the comfort of all the memories you’ve made there. Living out your advanced years in the same place allows for a natural conclusion to everything that took place there.
If you have strong bonds and involvement in your community, it can be hard to give up; especially if you have many years in the community under your belt – they can be irreplaceable in terms of depth and length of time.
Even if your home has gained value over the years and you’re looking to downsize, moving is still an enormous expense and a huge stressor. It may be advantageous for your health and finances to stay in your home.
Often when we move, we are forced to let go of many of the things we’ve accumulated over the years and cherish. When you move to a smaller dwelling, you’ll be forced to pare down the number of items you take with you.
You can renovate your home, so it fits your current needs, breathing new life into a space you treasure. There are plenty of changes you can make across your home – from your kitchen and bathroom to your bedroom – that will make your life easier, safer, and more comfortable. Whether you need to reimagine your home’s floorplan or make simple modifications to your everyday living spaces, remodeling your home can be the key to successfully aging in place.
See also: Understanding the Pros and Cons of the Different Remodeling Approaches
If you are thinking about relocating, consider this list of plusses and minuses.
If you’re struggling in your current home, starting fresh may seem like the most obvious choice. However, this can be one of the most expensive options. A new house (unless it is custom-built for you) will probably require modifications to make the house more senior-friendly for you. An independent home means that you likely won’t improve your access to daily care/medical assistance by very much.
Living with family can offer a level of companionship and connection that other options cannot. However, this will require major adjustments to the way you’re used to living, as well as to the family members that you will live with. Caregiving is a huge undertaking and puts family members under a lot of additional stress. It is highly likely the home will require modifications to be safe for you.
Retirement communities often feel like resorts, and their dwellings are typically ultra-low maintenance. Living in this type of community will often make many aspects of life a lot easier: from meeting likeminded peers to transportation for groceries. However, the low amount of personal care provided to residents may not be enough for you to justify the move. Residents can end up feeling restricted by the rules of the community, feel undue pressure to be involved socially, and encounter cliques and less diverse social groups. The amenities of retirement communities come at a significant cost, of course, as well.
If your condition requires a significant amount of involvement from caregivers, assisted living may feel like the only option. You’ll have consistent access to medical attention and a group of peers to socialize with. However, the lack of independence and autonomy can negatively impact on your mental health and attitude towards life. There are now many other ways to receive a similar level of care without needing to move to a facility that are worth considering.
See also: Reimagine Your Bathroom Without Starting from the Ground Up
There are no easy answers when it comes to deciding whether to move or stay in your home to age in place. It is imperative to choose the option that is financially sound but will also preserve your physical and emotional well-being. Creating a plan early and taking small steps will allow your finances and health to have better outcomes.
Innovative Home Renovations will help you remodel your Seattle home for a safe, comfortable future. Our design and build team combine form and functionality to create custom kitchens, bathrooms, and other spaces that enhance all stages of life. Contact us today to get started on your dream home.