You do not need to be old or in poor health before you begin doing a little age in place remodeling, and in fact, you are quite intelligent if you choose to do it prior to the time you will need it.  While you have plenty of options available to you for age in place remodeling, one stands out more than the rest.  That option is using smart technology, and most of it will make your life super easy, both now and in the future.

Here are 5 types of smart technology that you should include in your age in place renovations:

• Personal Assistance Devices

There are a couple different personal assistance devices available on the market, and you can choose whether you prefer Google’s Home, Amazon’s Alexa, or one of the others.  This device can remind you to take your medications, that your doctor’s appointment is coming up, or even to call your doctor.  You can even ask these devices a question that you do not know the answer to and it will give you the answer.

• Smart Lights

You will not need to worry about walking around in the dark as you search for a light switch after you include smart lights in your age in place remodeling plan.  Smart lights can be turned on and off from an app on a smartphone or tablet and they can keep you from falling unnecessarily.

• Video Doorbells

Older people are often targets for criminals and other unsavory people, but you can install a video doorbell during an age in place remodel to prevent a disaster from happening.  You can see who is on your front step, as well as carry on a conversation with them, all without opening the door or moving from where you are.

• CookStop Devices

Leaving a stove on can be quite dangerous for anyone, which is why the CookStop devices were created.  You can install the CookStop and it will automatically turn your stove off after it has been on for a predetermined amount of time.  You can adjust the settings to meet your needs, and an alarm will always alert you right before it turns the stove off, so that you can turn it back on if necessary.

• Keyless Door Locks

Fumbling with keys can be a thing of the past once you install a keyless door lock during your age in place remodel.  You can purchase one that needs to be opened via an app on your smartphone or you can choose one that you push the buttons and enter a code to get the lock to flip open.

All this smart technology will be of great assistance to you and it can all be installed during an age in place remodeling project.  You could wait to do an age in place remodel, but then you wouldn’t be able to use all this wonderful technology now.

Learn more about licensed and insured general contractor Glen Miller the Home Doctor and the variety of home improvement services he offers clients including: home maintenance plans, handyman services, kitchen remodels, bathroom renovations, handicap ramp installations, age in place modifications, basements transformations, and hardwood flooring installation and refinishing at www.glenmillerthehomedoctor.com.  To contact Glen Miller the Home Doctor call 734.255.9793 for a free estimate.

Moving into an assisted living facility may sound like a good idea at some point in your life, but you may prefer to spend as many of your golden years in the same home where you raised your family.  There is nothing wrong with doing this, especially if you have taken the necessary steps to ensure your safety.  After all, you may not move as well as the years go on.

An age in place remodeling specialist can assist you with planning any necessary renovations that you may need to make your home more accommodating for your future.  The age in place contractor that you choose can help you devise a plan to help you incorporate all the aging in place options that you may or may not need.

You may think that it is useless to do any age in place renovations now, before you need them, however, that is not the case.  These renovations should always be completed prior to them being needed, because if they are not, you will find yourself staying in a hospital or rehabilitation center longer until they are finished.  It is difficult to handle age in place construction on a home when cannot oversee the work!

There are plenty of things that you can do for your age in place renovations, but here are a few of the most common ones:

• A wheelchair ramp or other way to incorporate a flat entry point to your home may end up being necessary if you ever need to be in a wheelchair.
• The doors inside your home may need to be widened so you can fit through them with a wheelchair or walker.
• If widening your doorways will not work, your age in place remodeling specialist may recommend removing your doors and installing pocket doors instead.
• A walk-in tub will eliminate the need to step over the side of the tub to get inside, but you will still need to climb over a small step and maneuver through the small doorway.
• Most people prefer to forgo the above mentioned walk-in tub and install a built-in seat within their shower. Placing an adjustable grab bar next to the seat will allow you to sit and get up easily and give you something to hold onto if you decide to stand as you are showering.
• Your age in place contractor may always recommend that you install grab bars near your toilets.
• Countertops can be lowered, or you can vary the height of some of them, so that you are able to use at least one of them if you ever need to use a wheelchair for any length of time.
• Carpeting, faucets, and door handles are all other items that you may need to change during this process.

You shouldn’t think that you will never need any age in place renovations because you never know what the future may bring.  A little pre-planning with an age in place remodeling specialist can save you a ton of time in the future, especially if you are waiting not so patiently from a hospital bed to go home.

Learn more about licensed and insured general contractor Glen Miller the Home Doctor and the variety of home improvement services he offers clients including: home maintenance plans, handyman services, kitchen remodels, bathroom renovations, handicap ramp installations, age in place modifications, basements transformations, and hardwood flooring installation and refinishing at www.glenmillerthehomedoctor.com.  To contact Glen Miller the Home Doctor call 734.255.9793 for a free estimate.

When we are young and are looking for that first home we rarely even stop and wonder if this house would be a good place to live when we get older. This is due in large part because it will rarely be your first and only home in your lifetime. However, there will come a time that age will finally catch up with us and usually, that also includes a number of health challenges.

Unfortunately, not many traditional home interior and exterior designs are set up to handle some of the physical limitations that often come with aging. Many people end up being forced out of their home when they discover that they could no longer live independently inside their current home. This is really unfortunate since the news is filled with horror stories about the life of nursing homes and assisted living centers.

This article was designed to introduce you to some common things that can be done to the existing home that could very well eliminate the need for you or a loved one to be forced to go to an assisted living center. The concept of “age in place remodeling” may seem like a relatively new concept, but I can assure you that there is absolutely nothing new about it.

If you are looking to get some work done like this, be sure that you look for and find a good, local age in place remodeling contractor.

5 Age in Place Renovations Improve Your Homes Accessibility

Put in grab bars in the bathroom

Slip and falls are the number one cause of injuries to seniors and many of them occur frequently in the bathroom. By installing several of the sturdy grab bars in the shower, tub and around the toilet will help considerably to cut down on the worry and even the actual slip and fall accidents.

Put in a seat in a standup shower

Being able to stand for long periods of time can be extremely challenging for many seniors and then you add in the dangers of slip and falls in the stand-up shower. By adding a convenient bench seat so that you can sit down and still enjoy the benefits of taking a shower, without the fear or danger of falling without being able to get back up on your feet.

Replace all doorknobs with lever handles

Most doors in homes today feature traditional door knobs for opening them. Unfortunately, as we get older this can become a challenge for diseases like arthritis and others that affect the muscles can make it very difficult to turn a doorknob to be able to get the door open. By replacing all the knobs with lever style handles you will be able to open doors a whole lot easier.

Install auto sensing lights at all entry points

Entering a dark room presents a lot of dangers to senior with so many things that can be tripped over, fallen on because they just could not see it. Unfortunately, light switches cannot easily be gotten to by those who have difficulty reaching or bending. Auto-sensing lighting means that as soon as you get close enough to the opening of the door the light turns itself on.

Converting the lower level into a single level living area

For many getting old means not being able to as easily climb the stairs to get to the bedroom. Instead of risking the accidental falling down the stairs, consider remodeling the lower level to be able to have every living space on the first floor. No more worries about having to climb all of those steps just to get to the bedroom and bathroom.

Learn more about licensed and insured general contractor Glen Miller the Home Doctor and the variety of home improvement services he offers clients including: home maintenance plans, handyman services, kitchen remodels, bathroom renovations, handicap ramp installations, age in place modifications, basements transformations, and hardwood flooring installation and refinishing at www.glenmillerthehomedoctor.com.  To contact Glen Miller the Home Doctor call 734.255.9793 for a free estimate.

The idea behind age in place remodeling is to help baby boomers who want to retire in their own home as, to do so safely, independently, and comfortably regardless of their income or ability level. Besides living on your own home is a lot cheaper.  Seniors seem to be happy and enjoy some perks of being close to their loved ones, where they can get on with a life that is familiar to them as opposed to a nursing home or aged-care facility. There are, however, many potential risks for injury to seniors as they age lurking around their homes and making a few but vital modifications can significantly minimize such risks.

Types Of Age In Place Modifications

Examples of simple, cost-effective age in place modifications that an aging in place contractor can make include but are not limited to mounting additional railings and grab bars, installing nonskid flooring, turning a regular tub into a walk-in bathtub, installing a hand-held flexible shower head,  increasing lighting, installing accessible switches at both ends of the stairs to boost visibility, and minimize the risks of falls.  Falls happen to be the leading cause of distressing death with seniors.

Bathroom Updates For Seniors

The bathroom is one area that can greatly benefit from aging in place remodeling because lack of support in the shower or bathroom certainly increases the risks of accidental fall. The bathroom is a constantly wet area and one of the best ways to improve this situation is to install a shower without a threshold so that somebody in a wheelchair or walking aid can move in and out freely even without help.

Choosing a flooring material for the entire bathroom floor is equally important.  It entails picking a material that is slip resistant, one with an anti-slippery coating that doesn’t move out of place, one that is easy to move over with a cane, walker, or wheelchair without slipping, it should also be one that doesn’t require too much cleaning and maintenance. Bathroom flooring materials such as stone, ceramic or porcelain should be avoided because not only are they hard and unyielding,  they also require regular maintenance, they are cold to the feet, and above all, tiles with wide grout joints or uneven surfaces can be a trip hazard for seniors.

Changes To Your Lighting

Bathroom lighting for age in place remodeling is very important because too much lighting or lack thereof poses a risk of tripping. Puck lights are modern and versatile lighting solutions that an aging in place contractor can install inside cabinets or as under cabinet task lighting. Light fixtures with a built-in occupancy sensor are ideal for aging in place bathrooms and if possible for the entire home. Important also is to choose faucets that are easy to open with little effort as well as adding non-slip railing along the walls for additional support and bring all cabinets to a comfortable height that a senior can reach upwards, but not too low as you don’t want seniors to have to bend over too much.

Learn more about licensed and insured general contractor Glen Miller the Home Doctor and the variety of home improvement services he offers clients including: home maintenance plans, handyman services, kitchen remodels, bathroom renovations, handicap ramp installations, age in place modifications, basements transformations, and hardwood flooring installation and refinishing at www.glenmillerthehomedoctor.com.  To contact Glen Miller the Home Doctor call 734.255.9793 for a free estimate.

Ever since the commercial with the elder lady lying on the floor yelling, “I can’t get up” has more emphasis been placed on seniors choosing to age in place.  Without breaking the budget it is possible to turn your loved ones space into a senior friendly environment that keeps them safe while allowing them the independence and freedom that they crave.

The one space to completely overhaul, if any, is the bathroom.  Most accidents involving seniors occur in the bathroom.   If your budget allows for it the best option is to take the existing space and tear it down to the studs.  This will allow you to change the structural base of improvements.

Start with widening the door entrance to a width that easily accommodates a walker or wheel chair.  From door to jam the opening should be at least thirty two inches.   Change out the door and upgrade to a sliding door.  This makes entry and exit even easier for seniors with mobility issues.

The next addition in renovating the bathroom space to accommodate aging in place is to install a shower that allows the user entry without a ledge.  A zero entry, roll in shower is ideal for users dependent upon wheelchairs or walker.  The best shower head to install for aging in place is one that can be removed.  Hand held shower heads allow users to get into hard to reach places normal ones don’t reach.   Install a built in seat in the shower as well.  This will allow older people to get off their feet while showering if the extended standing is too much for them.  Shower grab bars are essential on the walls to help with balance.

As we age the muscles in our legs start to weaken.  To combat this install an elongated toilet that sits at least seventeen to nineteen inches off the ground. This will help ease the stress put on older legs when transitioning of getting on and off of the toilet.  Installing grab bars that are accessible from the toilet are also beneficial to aging adults.

Bathroom flooring is another area that causes concerns when it comes to seniors.  Tile options are often slick, carpet in a bathroom is not an ideal option and neither is wood or the use of throw rugs.  Ceramic tile offers selections with added texture.  This is an ideal flooring option to add to a bathroom remodel, especially in age in place remodeling.

Additional lighting, both natural and artificial should be added.  Eye sight tends to fade as we age and extra lighting helps combat these issues.

Keeping our parents safe is our top priority while keeping their independence is of top priority to them; unite both in age in place remodeling.

The Home Doctor, based in Livingston County including Brighton and Howell Michigan, offers a variety of home renovations to clients ranging from bathroom remodeling to age in place home modifications.  Contact http://glenmillerthehomedoctor.com/ today all of your home renovating needs.

The baby boomer generation is reaching the age of retirement.  They are starting to take into consideration the options that they have on where to live.  Seniors have more options than ever before because of the advancements in the technology that makes living within their own homes possible.  In the past a retirement home or assisted living facility was the only option older adults had.  This has been forever changed with the improvements found with age in place modification.

Professional contractors that specialize in handicap construction, ADA building codes and age in place modifications are a new breed of home improvement specialists.  They are able to take an ordinary home environment and make small renovations to greatly increase the quality of life for this older generation. One of the biggest worries for most of us is the safety of our parents as they go about the daily task of caring for themselves.  The number one room in the house for life altering accidents for seniors is the bathroom.  Specific bathroom age in place renovations will help decrease the likelihood of this occurring to someone you love.

The first thing that should be installed is high quality grab bars.  When installing grab bars, professional age in place contractors will use special anchors to ensure that no matter how much weight is put on the bar that it will not fail.  The anchor used is as important as the grab bar.  Grab bars should be placed in the shower as well as on the wall used for support exiting the shower area.  It is preferable at this point in life that a stand up shower without an entry lip is installed over the ordinary bath tub shower combinations that have been present in the past.

A seat should also be installed within the shower area, preferably a seat that is built in and permanently placed.  A temporary shower seat is an okay substitution when necessary but if the bathroom is being completely renovated work to build in a convenient seat for users.  A shower seat is extremely helpful to help older adults clean in areas unreachable from a standing position.  Your age in place specialist will also recommend a removable shower head.  This too adds convenience in accessing and thoroughly cleaning spots that water is unable to reach well from a standing position.

Cabinet hardware and shelving should be upgrades to options that make access simpler.   Seniors often lose mobility in their hands making cabinet hardware difficult to grasp.  Cabinet hardware should be changed to the type that allows them to be pulled open.  The same is true for shelving.  Install shelving that slides in and out.  This makes the entire cabinet accessible without having to dip down or bend over.  Both tasks become more difficult with aging.

As far as the electrical changes in the bathroom it is important to add extra lighting lower electrical outlets.  If a wheelchair is needed the lower electrical outlets will allow seniors to avoid reaching out of their chairs to plug appliances in or turn lights on.  Extra lighting is important as well.  It is important to enhance existing lighting with florescent bulbs and add direct lighting where needed.

Being independent leaves seniors living higher quality longer lives.  Age in place remodeling can ensure this gift is one that you can be bestow upon your loved ones.

The Home Doctor, based in Livingston County including Brighton and Howell Michigan, offers a variety of home renovations to clients ranging from bathroom remodeling to age in place home modifications.  Contact http://glenmillerthehomedoctor.com/ today all of your home renovating needs.