Aging in place refers to the ability to live in one's own home safely, independently, and comfortably as one ages. Here are some features that make a house great for aging in place:
Seniors made up 16.8% of the population of the United States in 2020. By 2050 it is predicted that approximately 22%. This increasing population of seniors means that it is more important than ever to add features into a house that will make the house a great place to age in place?
The best homes for aging in place have some key features “BUILT” into the house. Let’s call these the primary features.
Notice the attached 3 car garage and the low step entrance? These are important features for a house where you can age in place. There is also a 36 in entry door. With this house you have a main floor laundry, and you have lots of options for even having a workshop or hobby room if you so desire. If you want additional room for family gatherings you can use the wonderful basement with 9 foot ceilings and 2 egress windows also.
Single-story living: Avoiding stairs can be essential for aging individuals, so a home with all necessary amenities on one level is ideal.
Wide doorways and hallways: These allow for easy navigation with mobility aids like wheelchairs or walkers.
No-step or low step entry: Eliminating steps at entrances reduces the risk of falls and allows for wheelchair accessibility.
The flooring in this house makes it a wonderful option for aging in place. You are not hindered by carpet doorways in the main living space.
Open floor plan: An open layout minimizes obstacles and allows for easier movement throughout the home.
Main floor laundry room: A main floor laundry room that has enough room to have a side by side washer and dryer is ideal. If someone becomes wheelchair bound, a side by side washer and dryer make it easier than a stackable unit.
Accessible bathrooms: Features such as grab bars, roll-in showers, and raised toilets can make bathrooms safer and more usable for seniors.
You can’t see from this picture, but behind that shower curtain is a great walk in shower. You also have a separate bathtub. THere are also two separate vanities so you could easily transform one of them into a completely wheelchair accessible vanity if needed. Again, you can’t see from the picture, but there is also a great walk in closet that is accessible via wheelchair or scooter. Notice, even the floor does not have a threshold!
The fact that this kitchen has an island is another great option if there is a need for wheel chair access at some point. It would be a relatively simple process to lower the height of the island to make a wheelchair height counter. The sink and cabinet could also be lowered and made completely wheelchair accessible if needed.
An extra bedroom: Aging in place sometimes is best accomplished with the help of having someone else live with you, whether it be a hired assistant or a family member. So, even while it sometimes seems that a great house to age in place will be smaller and easier to maintain, in actuality, a great house for aging in place might be a bit bigger than you first imagine.
An attached garage and a garage door opener or, even better, a garage door opener with control by app functionality: Even after a senior is no longer able to drive a car, an attached garage is a great feature for a house planned for aging in place. People who come to pick up and bring home a senior can just pull into the garage to make it safer to manage getting into or out of the house.
There are other features that are easier to add to a house after the fact and which are much less costly to add to a house. We like to call these secondary features. They are things that you will find in the following list.
Notice how this primary bedroom has lots of room for walking around it and it could function well for someone in a wheelchair or scooter too should that become necessary.
Lever-style door handles and faucets: These are easier to operate than traditional knobs, especially for individuals with arthritis or limited hand strength.Easy-to-reach storage: Storage spaces and cabinets should be at reachable heights to avoid the need for excessive bending or stretching.
Accessible kitchen: Lower countertops, pull-out shelves, and easy-to-reach appliances make kitchen tasks safer and more manageable.
Easy to reach storage: Walk in closets and pantries, and drawers for storage make it easier to be able to manage growing older in a house if your ability to reach or if you are wheelchair bound.
Slip-resistant flooring: Flooring materials like non-slip tiles or low-pile carpet can help prevent falls.
Well-lit spaces: Good lighting, especially in hallways, stairs, and entrances, enhances visibility and reduces the risk of accidents.
Handrails: Install handrails along staircases, in bathrooms, and along hallways to assist with balance and stability.
Low-maintenance landscaping: Minimize the need for outdoor maintenance to reduce physical strain.
Emergency communication systems: Installations like emergency call buttons or medical alert systems provide peace of mind in case of accidents or emergencies.
Smart home technology: Devices such as voice-activated assistants, smart thermostats, and security cameras can enhance safety and convenience for seniors living alone.
Comfortable seating: Provide sturdy and comfortable chairs and sofas with appropriate back support throughout the house.
As you can begin to see from the photos in this post, the house at 920 Doolittle in Kalamazoo MI has a bunch of the primary features for aging in place AND it has lots of the secondary features.
The house has wonderful flexibility because you can completely live on the main floor as you are further into the aging in place continuum, AND you have the ability to have a finished two story home with up to 6 bedrooms and 3 baths if you want to finish the basement. This home is a great example of a two year old home that would be a great home for aging in place.
Notice another wonderful feature of this home that makes it ideal for aging in place. The dining area is separate yet without barriers or doorways so you can enjoy entertaining both INSIDE and OUTSIDE. Check out the outside space. You have the no ste patio and can enjoy the yard and trees with a wheelchair or scooter.
Check out the pictures and more details of 920 Doolittle by scanning this QR code.
Here is a space that is ready to be finished so that you can add 2 additional bedrooms or offices. Notice how well insulated this space is. If you do not need the basement finished, you can leave it as is.
Again, notice the 9 foot ceilings and huge open area if you would like to add a family room. There is plenty of space for a workshop and greta storage too. And if you don’t need the space, you don’t have to pay for the finished space.
Here are just a few of the many reasons that 920 Doolittle makes so much sense as a home for aging in place!
Single story living with a low step entrance
Open floor plan
Walk in pantry with lots of accessible shelving
Attached garage
4 bedrooms to be able to allow for live in assistance if needed.
Primary bathroom that has a walk ih shower
Basement that has not been finished so that any electronics can be easily added.
A 36” wide entry door
Lever handles
A yard that is gorgeous but not huge so hiring a lawn care service is not too expensive
The house is only 2 years old so the roof, furnace, AC, water heater will likely be under warranty for many years yet.
920 Doolittle also has some bonus features that are not necessary for aging in place, but they do make living in the home a wonderful experience.
Fireplace
Great place to sit and enjoy the yard while being on a covered porch
Plenty of windows to watch all the beauty of nature around you.
A slider to get out in a wheelchair.
A kitchen with plenty of room to navigate.
A yard that is private and where you can enjoy the best of nature but is not huge so hiring someone to mow the yard is not so costly.
Maintaining the home is not going to be so costly since it is well build and well insulated AND is only 2 years old. When you move to a condo you will have the monthly fees where you pay for the lawn and snowplowing. Hiring a landscaping company to manage your lawn and snow plowing year round is often done at a cost savings but gives you the same freedom.
If you would like to take a look at this home that has many aging in place features, give the Veenstra Team a call at 269-350-5514. And, if 920 Doolittle is already sold, the Veenstra Team will be able to find the other houses on the market that will be great for aging in place.
(LtoR) David Veenstra, Jason Veenstra and Cindi Veenstra. The Veenstra Team is led by Team Leader, Jason Veenstra. Jason is the son of David and Cindi Veenstra and he got his official start in real estate when he was 5 years old when he and his brothers would hand deliver Neighborhood Newsletters that The Veenstra Team produced to over 5000 homes in the Westwood Community of Kalamazoo.
How can I find homes that are great for aging in place?
We have some special free tools that help you find a home that would be great for aging in place. We would love to explain the options. There is no cost or obligation.
How can I know whether I should purchase before you sell your current house or sell your current house first?
There is not an automatic answer to this question. it is completely dependent on your specific circumstances and the Veenstra Team is happy to learn about your situation and provide a completely free, no obligation consultation to help you best understand your options and the process that will help you reach your goals most effectively.
How do I know if I can afford to move to a new house so that I can age in place?
This is exactly one of the questions that we help you to answer when we have a free consultation. The answer is not the same for all people and we are happy to help you get the answer.
I want to include my children or financial partner in this decision. May I invite others to the free consultation?
Yes! We are happy to include anyone that helps you make decisions and we can have those free consultations in person, or on a zoom meeting or even in a hybrid meeting where we meet with you and bring your trusted partner in on zoom.
What if I am not ready to make a decision right now but I have some questions?
Sound decision making almost always involves some research and consideration of information. Everyone approaches these major life decisions at a different point. We are willing to support you no matter where you are entering the process. Timing is always something that is determined by your wants and needs. We have worked with people over the course of many years based on their needs and wants and we have helped people make quick decisions because of their situational needs. When you work with the Veenstra Team you have the benefit of many years of real estate experience (David Veenstra started in 1987, Jason Veenstra and CIndi Veenstra in 2008) and a very diverse set of tools. We have the ability to respond quickly if decisions need to be made quickly OR we can provide you with information so that you have the ability to ponder or do more research. This process is about you and your needs and we will never put pressure on you to make a decision. We want to empower you to make sound decisions that are to your benefit. Give us the details of your particular situation and we will guide you and present the various scenarios for you to decide between.
Is a free consultation something that is kept private?
Absolutely! We do not share the names or details about our consultations with anyone.
I have other questions and I have not made any decisions yet. How do I get them answered?
We are happy to have a consultation about any real estate related questions you may have, whether they are related to the content or questions on this page.
