Completing a home renovation — with an eye toward elder care needs — can help seniors maintain independence while enjoying the comforts of home. Resulting from passage of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990, there are some relatively simple ways to accommodate an elderly person. An estimated three million individuals will turn 65 every year for the next two decades or so.

Find a contractor on Thumbtack. These highly practical principles are generally easy to implement in the planning stages of construction and add cost-effective value as well as convenience. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Pre-qualified offers are not binding. Reorganize things so that whatever the senior might need is within easy reach. Some seniors may qualify for a limited number of home improvement grants, based on their income and where they live. If you don't have a budget to replace a floor right away, make sure you at least replace or repair any damaged areas. Inogen offers quality, easy-to-use oxygen concentrators for on-the-go or at-home use. Another option is to install smart tech that uses motion sensors and can send an alert to a remote smartphone. You have to use the grants purely for home improvement process.

Replace them with levers. To a senior, slipping and falling can mean serious injuries that they’ll never really recover from.

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. Minorities, senior citizens, women, single-parent homes, veterans, people with disabilities, and financially disadvantaged people can all receive special opportunities for home grants. Allow enough space for multiple walking aids, for instance. These heavy bars can help prevent falls because of slippery tubs, shower stalls and floors.

Electronic door chimes that sound throughout the home are an easy way to stay alert when caring for an Alzheimer’s patient in the home. This isn’t a costly project and you can do it yourself. You can generally find grab bars at home improvement stores for $20to $30 each. Simple renovations such as comfort-height toilets, bath bars, step-through tubs, and showers with no curbs add safety and convenience in the bathroom, and make aging in place possible. 04/05/2016 05:07 pm ET Updated Apr 06, 2017 By Margarette Burnette .

Read more about how universal design creates a seamless aging in place experience. Changes in the structure, size and makeup of American households requires taking a new look at architecture and design that will address the needs of various age groups, from toddler to senior citizen. Find out About Provincial Tax Credits, Rebates and Grants. If you are planning to sell their homes, the grant process will add instant value to your property. Planning ahead for the possibility of such a reality, if you are building or remodeling, is worth a bit of time and effort. You can find lever-style knobs at home improvement stores starting around $20 each. Kitchen of the Future: Remodeling for Comfortable Aging in Place, The Guide to Making Your Home Work for an Elderly Relative, How Universal Design Creates a Seamless Aging-in-Place Experience, Trade traditional faucets for models with blade handles or motion controls. This information may be different than what you see when you visit a financial institution, service provider or specific product’s site. Medicare or private insurance may cover the cost of medical equipment that’s installed in a home, but they generally don’t pay for home remodel projects. After you are accepted for home renovation grants for seniors, you must use it for original purpose. Vinyl and linoleum can provide more traction than slick, hard stone floors, and the somewhat softer material can be more forgiving when someone falls. However, there are also all kinds of rebates and grants for renovating in Canada. Our opinions are our own.

Whether you renovate for yourself or a loved one, remodeling a home for aging in place can be a smart move. But it’s often less costly than senior living alternatives. A basic unit in an assisted living facility, for example, runs about $43,000 a year, according to the latest Cost of Care survey from Genworth Financial. Add a wheelchair ramp www.hhnmag.com/articles/5298-Boomers-Will-Transform-Health-Care-as-They-Agewww.washington.edu/doit/universal-design-process-principles-and-applications. Even though Baby Boomers may be in better physical condition than their predecessors, aging takes a toll on physical well-being, with mobility and vision problems causing the most concern. Cork averages about $5, and bamboo costs between $5 and $7 per square foot.

In fact, the vast majority of Canadians aged 65 and older live in private homes rather than retirement homes and other facilities for the aged.

Some seniors may qualify for a limited number of home improvement grants, based on their income and where they live. Medicare or private insurance may cover the cost of medical equipment that’s installed in a home… Whichever way you choose, be sure that the light switches are easily accessible and that the lights themselves don’t present a hazard. Exposed shower pipes may be a new home trend, but they shouldn’t be the only thing a senior has to grab onto in the bathroom. For seniors, a clutter-free home has the added advantage that it’s easier to move around safely when you don’t have to navigate your way around bric-a-brac, especially if you’re using some kind of walking aid. Here are some basic guidelines: There is no denying that society is changing on a global scale as more and more individuals live longer.

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A wheelchair ramp might be less expensive in another type of material. Related: 11 Habits of Extremely Organized People That You Can Do Too, When a senior lives alone and has an accident, they need to be able to call for help. Sign up for membership to become a founding member and help shape HuffPost's next chapter, Register to vote and apply for an absentee ballot today. Home Adaptations for Independence; BC Seniors' Home Renovation Tax Credit. You need to know why people end up in residential care homes if you want to avoid this fate for as long as possible. Expect to pay from $400 to $600 each.

Here are top renovation suggestions for seniors, along with average costs: Widen doorways All rights reserved. Related: 8 Renovations You Need to Start in Autumn, According to Bryan Baeumler. The Department of Health and Human Services' ElderCare.gov website has more details.

Your email address will not be published. Here are 20 renovation tips to help seniors stay in their home longer. You can find lever-style knobs at home improvement stores starting around $20 each. 1. Most expenses for home renovations will need to be paid out of pocket. If you don’t have a budget to replace a floor right away, make sure you at least replace or repair any damaged areas. Medicare or private insurance may cover the cost of medical equipment that's installed in a home, but they generally don't pay for home remodel projects. Take a cue from commercial standards when modifying your home. Learn more about this meal delivery service. Stairs are not only a problem for seniors with mobility issues specifically. Email: mburnette@nerdwallet.com.

For many seniors, living well means living comfortably at home. If you find discrepancies with your credit score or information from your credit report, please contact TransUnion® directly. The cost to widen a doorway varies, especially if there's electrical work required.

One easy way to assure that a bathroom is usable by small children as well as someone in a wheelchair is to simply lower one vanity sink and eliminate the cabinet underneath, opting instead for a slim vanity shelf. Modifying the shower doesn’t have to be a huge job either. Property and Casualty insurance services offered through NerdWallet Insurance Services, Inc.: Licenses, NerdWallet Compare, Inc. NMLS ID# 1617539, NMLS Consumer AccessLicenses and Disclosures, California: California Finance Lender loans arranged pursuant to Department of Business Oversight Finance Lenders License #60DBO-74812. Here are top renovation suggestions for seniors, along with average costs: If doorways are narrower than 32 inches, you may need to expand them to accommodate a wheelchair or other mobility device. Aging in place, for you or a family member, can be accomplished with some simple remodeling fixes. With the federal Home Accessibility Tax Credit, you can get back up to $1,500 on approved renovations like making the bathroom wheelchair friendly. Changing doorknobs can be a do-it-yourself task, or you might hire a handyman. Many seniors prefer to live in familiar surroundings as they grow older. One solution is to remodel the space to accommodate these challenges.

Most expenses for home renovations will need to be paid out of pocket. The average cost of a motorized chair lift is between $3,000 and $4,000, while an elevator installation often tops $20,000, according to HomeAdvisor.com. Renovations can be expensive, but did you know that you can save on taxes when you renovate your home to make it more accessible? For seniors, good lighting can also help prevent accidents and make it easier to read or engage in their favourite activities and hobbies.