Planning a house that will work for us as we age

Honduras Trish · #1 07/26/12, 02:54 PM

Dh and I are both 50, and we're designing and building a house which we anticipate will be our home for the next 20 yrs or so. I'm trying to think ahead to things that will help make the house livable for us as our bodies age.

I've already planned the kitchen, with lots of shallow storage shelves from about knee height up to head height, eliminating much bending and reaching into the waaaaay back of cupboards. There are some stairs (as there's a basement), but the bedrooms are on the same level as the living areas.

I'd love to hear other suggestions, as to things that would be useful. We currently have plans for two bathrooms which each have a tub/shower combo, and I'm wondering if one of those should be simply a shower, so that it wouldn't be necessary to climb into a tub to wash. Thoughts?

Thanks for the help!

Darren · #2 07/26/12, 03:20 PM

Are you building the house in Honduras?

Honduras Trish · #3 07/26/12, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darren

Are you building the house in Honduras?

Yes, we are.

Ramblin Wreck · #4 07/26/12, 06:29 PM

I like walk in showers, regardless of age or disability, the bigger the better. I only have one shower head, but I wish sometimes I had two. My brother and SIL are building a house next door to me and they are constructing it with no steps between the attached carport and the house. If you do build steps, a wide step with a shallow rise is nice, again regardless of age.

Have fun planning your new home.

Ardie/WI · #5 07/26/12, 06:40 PM

Make all the door ways wide enough to drive a wheelchair through without hitting the drivers knuckles on the woodwork. Make all the bathrooms handicapped accessible in every way.

I advise this because ones health status can change very quickly.

No steps, if possible. If the house has a second floor or a basement, consider enough space to install an elevatar.

Big Dave · #6 07/26/12, 08:26 PM

Make the guest room big enough for visitors. Now where is it you live?

whodunit · #7 07/26/12, 08:33 PM

I've always dreamed of sinks that are at chest level, so I don't have to stoop to wash my hands or work in them.

If you anticipate having live-in caregivers in the future maybe a bedroom next to your room for that purpose.

Like someone said before, extra wide doorways.

Extra large fridge/freezer in the kitchen for storing pre-made meals.

Just a few ideas...

jwal10 · #8 07/26/12, 09:32 PM

Look up handicap and wheelchair accessible homes. Roll in showers, kitchen cabinets and sink that a wheelchair rolls under and the faucet controls are to the side, not all the way in the rear. 2' tall upper cabinets, easier to get things out of. Pedestal bath sink. Many small changes. I built all the small rental cabins accessible as I was building for the elderly. No steps, slight inclines to make wheelchairs easy to roll up. Our cabin is built this way. Sweetie is not in a wheelchair but steps are almost impossible. 2 person shower, 2 heads plus a handheld shower head, nice seating in the shower. All the floors the same finished level. Windows lower to see out better. Silent floor beams set inside the concrete foundation to get the floor lower instead of on top....James

stamphappy · #9 07/27/12, 01:01 AM

My elderly mother in law really likes our step-in shower because there's no need to step over a wall.

I think that pull out drawers in all of the botom cupboards would be nice.

Easy to open/close hardware on the windows.

If it's ever cold there, you may like heated floors.

Door knobs that have a handle you push down rather than the round knobs that you have to twist.

okiemom · #10 07/27/12, 08:53 AM

mom is living with me now and we are finding things we didn't take into account when we build our retirement home. I have had back surgery and have had to use a walker after for a while so I took some lessons when we designed out house but didnt get everything right.

36" doors are a must. scooters, wheelchairs, walkers etc. go through much easier. 36" door makes the halls wider as well. no sharp bends in halls.

make sure the walls of your shower can support hand rails. the prefab plastic ones that come in one piece or two have a space between them and the wall making hand rails impossible. use solid surfacing or tile on walls. no lip showers are best. no stepping over. i have a shower only now but there is still a step and my mom is having a hard time stepping over and there is no way to put in a rail in there as the door and one wall is glass. bigger the shower the better. the chairs take up a lot of room and if someone has to help they have to be able to manuver.

drawers in kitchen nice.

non silip flooring. we have concrete stained and sealed. it can get slick at times.

room for a caregiver to stay.

jassytoo · #11 07/27/12, 11:53 AM

We have a 12 year old grandson who is handicapped so our home is already accessable. Wide doors, outside wheelchair ramp were the first things we did. At his home they put a slightly sloped floor in his bathroom with a drain and showerhead in one corner. Very easy to roll his bath chair into. Also in his bedroom, he has a closet that his chair can get into and turn around so he can access his things. No closet doors either. In his bathroom the faucet has no handles. It comes on when you put your hands under it, so no knobs to turn. He doesn't have trouble with things being too high or low as his chair goes up and down but for a regular chair you'd have to consider counter heights etc.. We did change our home for DGS but I must admit it's made life a lot easier for us too.

Wolf mom · #12 07/27/12, 10:46 PM

A bathroom large enough for a wheelchair to turn around in. Higher toilet - it's hard for some arthritic elders to get up from the regular height ones.

As was said, look at building for the handicapped sites. Some things you may want to build in order to make over as things wheel chair height may not be what you want to live with now. Then again, you may never have to be in the situation that requires a wheel chair.

Don't forget the outside also. I have a friend that is building all his raised beds high enough to work in from a wheelchair! When I watch that - I cant help thinking what a positive attitude - no wheelchair is going to hold him back from doing what he loves.

Darren · #13 07/31/12, 11:28 AM

Any chance of future political instabiliy or extreme weather?

Honduras Trish · #14 07/31/12, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darren

Any chance of future political instabiliy or extreme weather?

Yes, there's the possibility of both. We went through the "coup" situation in 2008, and in our rural location there weren't significant problems (there were riots and businesses burned and such in the big cities). The biggest weather event in recent history was Hurricane Mitch, in the late 90's. Tens of thousands of people were killed, but our biggest concern for this type of situation is being cut off from supplies and exit routes. Compared to other parts of the country, this area didn't sustain lots of damage, even from that huge event.

So, yes to the possibilities, but as much as one can predict such things, I think we are in a relatively safe location (we've lived in this area since 2005).

Darren · #15 07/31/12, 10:29 PM

I'm not sure what indigenous building materials you have. You should be able to build a house out of concrete. If you can make it hurricane proof, it should be able to resist other circumstances. When you look at the pictures of Hiroshima. some masonry structures resisted the blast.

greenmcdonalds · #16 08/01/12, 04:03 AM

NO stairs if you can help it. Or put in a chair to go up them. I take care of 3 90+ ladies, and the only reason im there is because they can't do the stairs anymore. They can go out and garden, drive, play golf , but can't climb up and down the stairs. Biggest mistake when u are older is to put the washer and dryer in the basement. Another is the bathtub, put in a shower with no edge or lip. They can't lift the legs over the tub anymore.

greenmcdonalds · #17 08/01/12, 04:07 AM

One more thing, a chair that can lift u up and out. The big reclining chairs are nice till we are older. Then my pts. can get out of the chairs without help.

modineg44 · #18 08/02/12, 08:45 PM

Walk in shower with no step up.

Electric plugs higher than usual to limit bending.

All hallways and doors at least 3 feet wide. Design everything for scooter use.

If you have stairs, design them straight up with no curve or landing. It will be easier to have a stair lift installed if needed.

Attached garage close to the kitchen for unloading groceries.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

I be there are some websites with a lot of ideas.

Nancy

emdeengee · #19 08/03/12, 05:15 PM

Big drawers in the kitchen make it easier than shelves to reach items at the back. Lazy susans in the corners are great for heavy items like pots and pans - no lifting you just spin until you reach the pan you want.

Entry into the house should be level to the ground. This is practical for wheelchair access but also if you have mobility issues and cannot lift your foot high enough to step up or legs too weak to step down easily.

If you have stairs make sure you have a handrail on both sides. And the stairs should be wide enough and a straight run so that you can install an elevator chair. Or put in an elevator if that is possible but with an emergency generator of its own.

Make sure light switches, door handles are not too high up and electric plugs not too low.

Al Von · #20 09/12/12, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwal10

Look up handicap and wheelchair accessible homes. Roll in showers, kitchen cabinets and sink that a wheelchair rolls under and the faucet controls are to the side, not all the way in the rear. 2' tall upper cabinets, easier to get things out of. Pedestal bath sink. Many small changes. I built all the small rental cabins accessible as I was building for the elderly. No steps, slight inclines to make wheelchairs easy to roll up. Our cabin is built this way. Sweetie is not in a wheelchair but steps are almost impossible. 2 person shower, 2 heads plus a handheld shower head, nice seating in the shower. All the floors the same finished level. Windows lower to see out better. Silent floor beams set inside the concrete foundation to get the floor lower instead of on top....James

These are GREAT suggestions! As a paramedic, I will add that wheelchair accessible does not mean stretcher accessible. When you are planning, make sure there is more room than just-enough-to-fit a wheelchair. Minimise 90-degree turns, and dont put a wall directly in front of your entry! I am amazed how many newer homes are nearly inaccessible with the ambulance cot!

lamoncha lover · #21 09/13/12, 10:01 AM

we are in our 50's and thinking along the same lines for our new house. One of my main concerns was bathroom and shower so the master bath has a shower "room" there will be no steps and it is all being designed with the thought of wheel chair accessability. Our house is all 1 level and the porch and front door will be ez to get to if a w/c is needed. after reaing this I will make sure the interior doors are wide enough to get into. plugs are all a tad high and switches low enough to reach. Windows are all low enough to se eout from a chair. I am sure we will miss somethings..but at least we will have a headstart.

Nevada · #22 09/13/12, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al Von

These are GREAT suggestions! As a paramedic, I will add that wheelchair accessible does not mean stretcher accessible. When you are planning, make sure there is more room than just-enough-to-fit a wheelchair. Minimise 90-degree turns, and dont put a wall directly in front of your entry! I am amazed how many newer homes are nearly inaccessible with the ambulance cot!

Interestingly, I'm from Wooster and also did fire rescue work for a county fire department in California. After high school I left Wooster for college, then was recruited by a company in California. I haven't seen Wooster since the early 70s.

I bought my home with retirement in mind, since I'll be here the rest of my life (I own it mortgage-free). It's important for the home to be single-story, thereby avoiding stairs. My home happens to have ceramic tile throughout, so it's easy to keep clean. The house is located on a bus line, and the doctor, I selected is on that bus line in the event that I can't drive for some reason, as are a pharmacy, supermarket, and bank. We also have a supermarket in Las Vegas that delivers (Vons).

Las Vegas is a great place to retire. It's not only the senior discount capital of the world, but the number of seniors living here has created an atmosphere where seniors are catered to. There's healthy competition among Medicare Advantage HMOs, medical clinics, and even home health providers. I see the dismal real estate picture in Las Vegas as an opportunity, since houses are affordable right now.

Honduras Trish · #23 09/13/12, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nevada

Interestingly, I'm from Wooster and also did fire rescue work for a county fire department in California. After high school I left Wooster for college, then was recruited by a company in California. I haven't seen Wooster since the early 70s.

My dh is originally from Wooster! It's like a Wooster reunion around here!

ldc · #24 09/13/12, 04:14 PM

I stayed w/ my Wooster cousins for the year 1972, and we would visit Wooster by train from NJ in the 60's....Wooster was just a "whistle stop" then!

Nevada · #25 09/13/12, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ldc

I stayed w/ my Wooster cousins for the year 1972, and we would visit Wooster by train from NJ in the 60's....Wooster was just a "whistle stop" then!

Yes, I was still hanging around Wooster in 72, but kind of on & off. I was mostly in Columbus attending OSU at that time.

I lived in Coshocton before I lived in Wooster. I found Wooster to be a pretty worldly place in comparison. Coshocton was located off the beaten path, making the town somewhat culturally isolated. Wooster had a college that attracted students from out of state, so new ideas and styles were accepted more readily.

frogmammy · #26 09/15/12, 10:24 PM

Make sure you have ENOUGH electrical outlets. You don't want to be dodging extension cords in a walker, scooter or wheelchair. Also, when my husband was ill we discovered that all the electrical devices you may need can easily overload ONE electrical outlet (or even two!) per room!

Mon

jwal10 · #27 09/16/12, 09:32 AM

Build smaller for less area to clean, less room for clutter, but lots of storage space, especially if you prep. I built in a whole corner cabinet in the kitchen. 2 level lazy susan on the bottom, 3 shelves for baking ingredient storage in the middle and food storage the rest of the way up, everything in one place and hidden away behind 3 tiered doors. Nice big prep/baking island with cutting boards built in. The garage/storage is detached but has a breezeway/patio all on the same level. Our cottage is 2 rooms, kitchen/dining/living and bedroom/bath. The only interior door is the bedroom door and only used if I am up and Sweetie is sleeping/napping. I built in wall tables and shelves to keep floor legs to a minimum. Opens up the travel areas and saves tripping and stubbed toes....James

Nevada · #28 09/16/12, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwal10

Build smaller for less area to clean

Yes, smaller is good. Don't get a place any bigger than you need. Be realistic about your retirement needs.