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PrintHome Remodeling Guide - Growing old and going green with home improvements
The most popular “senior-tailored” house renovations.
Together with green remodeling, “aging in place” is a maturing trend on the local remodeling market. Today, one in every four Tulsans is over age 55. Because of its warmer climate and lower cost of living, Tulsa is also a magnet for retirees. The city’s population of 65- to 74-year-olds will swell by 20 percent within three years. With longer life spans and surging costs of nursing homes, more families are realizing the advantages of remodels that address seniors’ needs and allow them to enjoy their dwellings for an additional five to 15 years.
Here is a rundown of the most popular “senior-tailored” house renovations:
Lower-cost upgrades:
Replace doorknobs with lever handles for about $20 apiece. “Arthritis or not, this universal design works best for all family members,” says Barry Helms, of Renovations by Helms.
Improve lighting by creating more even lighting with additional fixtures ($20-$100), using higher-wattage bulbs ($2/bulb) and installing motion sensors ($50).
Focus on bathroom improvements. Make the bathroom safer with a handheld showerhead ($100) and using grab bars in key bathroom “thoroughfares” ($30-$50). “Your house does not have to look like a hospital wing,” Helms says. “Today you can find elegant bars that will harmonize with the room.”
Also, install a toilet that is a more comfortable height ($150-$500). Remove a portion or the entire front of your existing bathtub and make it a walk-in shower with a door ($500-$1,000), says Marlene Snow, of Adapt-A-Home. “This is the cheapest route to washing safely.” Also, simple aids such as non-slip shoes and a rubber-backed mat outside the shower can help prevent accidents.
Make phones easy to reach. If she doesn’t have one already, “get cordless phones and train your senior mom to take the receiver with her to the shower so she can call in case of an emergency, like a slip or fall,” Snow says.
Add bright stripes on stair edges ($10-$20).
Higher-cost upgrades:
Widen doorways to an optimal 36 inches to accommodate wheelchairs. This can cost $300-$500, according to Helms.
Embed non-slip flooring in the bathroom and kitchen; choose matte over glazed tile. Cost is $1,200-$3,000 (depending on bathroom size).
Install a curbless shower ($3,000 minimum).
Build in ramps and rails outside to help seniors move in and out of the house.
Preempt heavy-duty exterior home maintenance.
Recruit the help of technology, such as a smart security system that can automatically call for help in case of a fire.
Adjust kitchen and bathroom countertop heights.
