How Do I Make My Home Safe as I Age?

Making your home safer and more accessible as you get older is a deeply personal and important goal. With thoughtful modifications, you can shape your home into a place that supports greater ease and comfort as your needs evolve.

Start With the Bathroom

The bathroom is a natural starting point for aging-in-place design. A few well-chosen improvements support meaningful change in your home:

• Curbless, walk-in shower: Removing the step-over barrier creates a more comfortable, accessible entryway for your shower.
• Built-in shower bench: A seated bathing area increases flexibility and comfort, accommodating a wider range of needs while maintaining bathroom aesthetics.
• Grab bars: Located near the toilet, shower entry, and along walls, grab bars offer valuable support. Today's designs integrate beautifully into well-chosen tile and fixture selections.
• Comfort-height toilet: A slightly taller toilet helps ease the sit-to-stand movement, making daily use more comfortable.
• Wider doorway: Widening a bathroom doorway accommodates walkers, wheelchairs, and other mobility aids.
• Accessible shower controls: Repositioning controls to an offset location allows you to adjust the water temperature from outside the shower, eliminating the need to reach across the entryway before you step inside.

Improve Bedroom and Whole-Home Accessibility

For many older adults, keeping a bedroom on the main level is a priority worth planning for early. If your home doesn't have a first-floor bedroom, converting an underused space like a study or formal dining room is often a practical solution that can also boost home value.

Smaller whole-home adjustments also help increase comfort and confidence as you move through your home. Possible enhancements include:

• No-step entry: A step-free entrance at the front or rear of the home enhances comfort and accessibility.
• Stair lift or residential elevator: In multistory homes, stair lifts and elevators facilitate greater independence.
• Wider hallways: Widening hallways improves accessibility for wheelchairs and other mobility aids.
• Smooth transitions between rooms: Removing raised thresholds between flooring surfaces creates more continuous, comfortable paths from room to room.
• Thoughtful hallway lighting: Adding motion-activated fixtures in hallways and brighter overhead lighting at key transitions makes navigation easier.
• Laundry room relocation: Moving the washer and dryer to the main level keeps the whole home more livable as needs change.

Remodel Your Home With a Caring Expert

At Amiano & Son, Design-Build, we understand the importance of improving your home's safety and convenience as you get older. Whether you're considering an accessibility-focused bathroom remodel, a main-floor bedroom conversion, or a broader plan for your home's future, our team approaches every project with care, expertise, and a genuine commitment to success. With a history of serving South Jersey and the Jersey Shore since 1968, we help you make changes personalized to your needs. Reach out to us today to start a conversation about your project.

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