Advertisement
If you’ve finally reached the point in your life where you’re thinking about retirement, or if a medical emergency has forced you to retire, either way, it’s time to think about making your life (and your home) safer and more convenient.
All across the United States, Americans pay big money on home renovations and remodels. And most of this is done for aesthetic purposes. But once you reach your golden years, taking your home environment into consideration should be highly prioritized. After all, you’ll likely be spending a lot more time at home, so you might as well make it as comfortable as possible.
We all have to grow old and deal with the inconveniences that come along with old age. But this doesn’t mean that you can’t make your home safe and convenient. And there are many ways to achieve these goals.
Here, we’ll explore a few home additions that will offer you greater comfort and convenience, while keeping you safer as well.
Home Elevators
You don’t have to live in an elaborate mansion to have an elevator in your home. And if you’ve reached retirement age and have a two-story home or larger, an elevator might be just what you need.
As we age, our agility decreases significantly. Additionally, our muscles become weaker and our bones aren’t as strong. And this means that any slip and fall down a flight of stairs can be extremely dangerous, if not potentially fatal.
Installing a lift in your home not only provides for greater convenience for you as you won’t have to painfully navigate stairs each and every day, but it also offers you a safer environment as well.
In addition, having a home elevator also offers your family and your guests the comfort and convenience of not having to ascend a set of stairs when visiting your home.
Rec-Rooms
If you’re looking for something to do after you retire, instead of going out and greeting people all day at Walmart, building a rec-room in your home will offer you a place for you to work on your favorite hobbies anytime you see fit.
Perhaps you’re the type who loves to build things, or maybe you simply need a space to store and enjoy your collectibles. In this case, a rec-room can provide this space for you.
Rec-rooms can be built to suit any needs. And a few possibilities that a rec-room can serve are as follows:
- Home theater
- Game room
- Woodworking shop
- Art studio
- Music studio
- Storage room
- Additional bedroom
Anyone who’s retired needs to have a space where they can enjoy their own spoils, be creative, or simply relax the day away in peace and quiet. And when you’re retired, a rec-room in your home offers this type of convenience.
Ramps & Rails
As mentioned, as we age, we become a bit frailer and less agile than in our youth. And as a result, the conveniences that we often took for granted such as walking upstairs or around corners can become much more difficult, and dangerous.
Studies from the CDC have shown that just about every second of every day, a senior over age 65 suffers a slip and fall in the United States. And many of these falls can cause painful contusions, dislocations, or broken bones. And if you have a home with stairs and sharp corners, this is something that you may want to address.
If you have steps leading up to your home, you may want to consider removing the steps and adding a ramp. This will enable you to walk fully into your home without having to navigate any stairs that could cause you to miss a step and fall.
Additionally, if you have a home with many walls, or if you don’t want to remove your stairs, adding railings along walls and alongside stairways can offer you the safety and assistance that you’ll need in order to avoid suffering a slip and fall, and possibly a hospital visit as well.
Aging Gracefully
If you want to enjoy your golden years, and your retirement free from the timeclock, making your home a safe and comfortable place should be high on your list of to-dos. And with a little ingenuity, creativity, and by considering the additions listed here, you’ll be able to enjoy your later years conveniently and safely.
Aging gracefully requires taking care of yourself. And creating a safe and comfortable environment is a huge part of this process.