Home modifications may be better than a move

One of my friends just added a gorgeous, walk-in shower to a first-floor bathroom that sits nicely behind a kitchen pantry and easily is accessible to the kitchen, den and home office. The huge rectangular glass-door enclosure features a sliding shower head that can rise more than eight feet above the stone floor.

“Are you expecting grandkids that will be 6-foot-7,” I laughed.

“That … and if something ever happens to us, we’ll need a shower downstairs. That office could quickly become a bedroom.”

Finding the perfect house is a dream we all share. Having that house remain perfect – or even functional – for our specific needs during the later part of our lives is a totally new ballgame. Many older Americans are finding their once-perfect house that sheltered their babies no longer is perfect for them in retirement or once the kids have gone.

Do you sell, pay the closing costs on the house and the real estate commission, and move to a different neighborhood with new church, grocery store and senior center? Or do you stay in the home and remain in the familiar environment you’ve enjoyed for years? If you decide to stay – and an overwhelming number of elders would prefer to stay put – what will you do to make it work?

Nearly a quarter of Americans 45 or older say they, or someone they live with, will have trouble maneuvering around their home in the coming years. In addition, fewer than 10 percent of the nation’s 100 million housing units have features to make them universally accessible.

Households with residents of all ages have roots in their communities and strong emotional ties to their homes. Few people want to move solely because their house no longer fits their needs. Allocating money for modification needs, however, may get lost among many other pressing items, especially in an economic downturn. While adding a wonderful new shower is nice, “home mods” typically entail smaller projects.

Home modifications refer to adaptations to homes that can make it easier for someone to carry out daily activities – preparing meals, climbing stairs, bathing – as well as changes to improve a structure’s safety and condition. These project designs have come a long way and are custom, attractive amenities that no longer sing out “an old person lives here.” They can also enhance the resale value of the home once the present homeowner must move to another place. These improvements and alternations can serve all ages, hence the name universal design, or UD.

“Seniors and boomers are so active now that some of the activities are clearly putting stress on their bodies,” said Susan Mack, a California-based occupational therapist. “I’ve got people who are getting hip and knee replacements in their 60s and people in their 40s getting their knees scoped. This did not happen with previous generations because they didn’t live as long nor put this stress on their bones so soon.

“If you’ve got a sports injury, do you want to come home to a house that is fraught with hazards and barriers? These are not just designs and ideas for the frail elderly. We are also providing solutions for people who never thought they were going to get old – at least not this quickly.”

Why now? First, people remodel, rather than move, in a down market. Plus, an AARP study compared people living in a UD house with others in traditional settings. The study found significant cost differences for health care – those in UD settings paid less than half the amount paid by those living in regular designs.

The study pointed to savings by “undergoing less physical decline.” For example, by providing at least one no-step entry to homes, the likelihood of falls and injuries is reduced. It also allows for safer exits during a fire or other emergency.

More important, U.S. builders and remodelers have anticipated the huge need – and financial rewards resulting from it – and jumped on board. The National Association of Home Builders, a trade association with more than 205,000 members, now offers a certified aging in place (CAPS) designation.

Maybe I should speak with one those specialists before I get my knee scoped.