Renovation Tips from an Expert
If you are organizing an aging-in-place home renovation, you should know that every detail you add as a part of your renovation master plan matters. You need to carefully consider every product you will use to make your home safer and allow easier access to every space. Of course, one of the most essential spaces … Read more
Bathroom faucets are typically decided in a hurry compared to other more expensive items in the bathroom, such as the shower, shower wall, tub, and sink. Not thoroughly considering the quality of the bathroom faucet could lead to some issues in the future. For this reason, homeowners need to search for a high-quality bathroom faucet … Read more
A lot of the contemporary kitchen faucets currently on the market have a lot of features that focus on providing maximum comfort to the user. User-friendly kitchen faucets have become more popular than traditional faucets because they make cleaning dishes a quick and straightforward process. Therefore, many big-name brands specializing in manufacturing faucets have made … Read more
In a regular household, a lot of accidents happen in the kitchen. However, it is the bathroom where most accidents actually take place. Therefore, if you are planning an aging-in-place home renovation, you need to pay a lot of attention to finding the best fixtures for your bathroom. A vital fixture in every bathroom is … Read more
Threshold ramps help seniors transition through a doorway threshold or small steps on foot, wheelchairs, scooters, canes, etc. Typically, they are easy to install by simply placing them down. Some are foldable or have an adjustable height. Ultimately, the best threshold ramps for aging in place are lightweight, non-skid, stable, and sturdy. Below is a … Read more
There have been many misconceptions about older adults preferring more traditional fixtures for their homes. While it is true that older adults like simplicity in their kitchen fixtures that allow for easy use, the truth is that the products that have the most convenient and practical features are the more modern ones. This is especially … Read more
The bathroom is one of the most dangerous places to be in. Certain floor surfaces, when wet, become especially slippery. This danger is exacerbated when you aren’t as agile or mobile as you once were. It is important to have the best non slip bathroom rugs handy with that in mind. Finding the right non … Read more
As we get older, protecting ourselves becomes even more important. Even the slightest slips and falls can be quite dangerous to our health. With that in mind, it is important to limit the risk of falls and slips by installing non slip runner rugs, particularly in areas with heavy foot traffic. Doing so can ensure … Read more
The kitchen is one of the places we spend a lot of time standing. Therefore, it makes perfect sense to find a non slip kitchen rug that is comfortable, relieves pressure from our joints, and is secure enough to eradicate slips. With that in mind, here are the 5 best non slip kitchen rugs for … Read more
Shopping to get the best outdoor faucet handle for arthritis can be quite stressful. Apart from finding an outdoor water faucet handle that fits your outdoor design language, you have to find an outdoor faucet handle that is easy for those who have arthritis to use. This process can be challenging, with doubt creeping into … Read more
There are a variety of toilet grab bars for aging in place available in the market. They mainly vary according to style. The most common ones are standalone rails, fixed wall mount rails, floor-to-ceiling rails, and flip-up rails. We review the top 7 toilet grab bars for aging in place on Amazon and why they … Read more
If you are looking for style besides practicality out of your kitchen fixtures, black kitchen faucets can help make your kitchen stand out in your home. Black kitchen faucets give an air of modernity to your kitchen and make a strong impression on people when entering the room for the very first time. A black … Read more
When choosing a shower grab for bathroom safety, there are several factors you have to consider. First, the weight, mobility limitations, and cognitive disabilities of the user. Then, the type, mounting style, and material used to make the shower grab. This article will review our top 7 recommendations for shower grab bars and detail the … Read more
If you want to make your home or a loved one’s home safe for aging in place without drilling, no drill grab bars are a great option for assisted mobility. The most common types of no drilling grab bars include suction grab bars, bathtub rails, and floor to ceiling rails. They utilize suction, clamp mounting, … Read more
A crucial part of aging in place home modifications is your kitchen renovation. The kitchen is an essential space within a home and perhaps the most commonly used space. For this reason, you need to pay special attention when selecting all the fixtures in your kitchen. You need to consider many things before choosing a … Read more
As we get older, mobility becomes challenging for us. This means that tasks that we were once able to do with ease, like walking, become difficult. Limited or impaired mobility means spending a significant amount of time resting in a bed or sitting on a chair. Sitting for hours on end, particularly among the elderly, … Read more
Brushed nickel cabinet knobs are matte with a dull shine. Their color ranges from golden to whitish. They work best for more traditional interior designs such as farmhouse, country, Tuscan, or French styles. Brushed nickel cabinet hardware adds a slightly warm tone to your house and complements wood finishes, tiles, stones, or granite and a … Read more
Do you have beautiful hardwood floors in your home that guests tend to fawn over? Installing these floors can be expensive, and the best thing you can do is to preserve your investment. Preserving your investment in this sense means purchasing the best non slip furniture pads for hardwood floors. Non slip furniture pads provide … Read more
Gold hardware trends are ever-changing. They go in and out of fashion over the years, but there are ways you can incorporate them into your home to remain relevant. Gold knobs are most commonly incorporated in kitchen and bathroom decor. They add a touch of luxury to your home and can be paired with different … Read more
Although glass cabinet knobs are not as popular as they were in the 1950s, they can be a great option for sprucing up your kitchen or bathroom cabinetry for aging in place. You can use them to add beauty to your kitchen cabinets, bathroom cabinets, or built-in cabinetry. Glass cabinet knobs and other door accessories … Read more
Brass hardware can be incorporated in various ways in your home, whether as kitchen cabinet hardware, an appliance pull, drawer pull, bathroom shelves, or doorknobs. Brass knobs fit most home decor styles, including vintage, Victorian, mid-century modern, grand millennial, Scandinavian, and modern aesthetics. They are not limited to only a particular interior style. Therefore, if … Read more
Ergonomics is an important variable that most of us never consider, at least that is until we or someone close to us suffers from arthritis. Arthritis is the leading cause of work disability in America. Around 13 million adults suffer from symptomatic hand osteoarthritis, while 9 million people suffer from symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. The Center … Read more
If you are looking to renovate your kitchen, you will require a high-quality kitchen faucet to provide efficient performance. With that in mind, we have created a list to highlight 10 of the best Moen kitchen faucets for aging in place. The Moen kitchen faucets in this list are stylish and functional, ensuring that they … Read more
Finding the perfect shower curtain for the aging-in-place home is no easy task. It’s hard to check off all the boxes. It has to be waterproof, prevent slippery floors, provide privacy — but most of all, it has to be mold-resistant. Mold and mildew buildup can create an unhealthy environment for your loved one, something … Read more
Most people associate arthritis with hands, but knees, backs, and legs can all suffer from arthritis, as well. An area of the home that is particularly hard on aching joints is a staircase. Most homes include a set of stairs in one room or another. Most homes are multi-level living, and even ranch homes tend … Read more
If you’re an avid reader of this site, you probably know that I greatly prefer handles and levers to knobs and handlesets. This is because any entry hardware that requires you to squeeze or depress something causes pain for those with arthritis. That’s why I really like levers for passage doors around the house, and … Read more
According to the National Institute on Aging, nearly 80% of falls happen in the bathroom. As an aging-in-place contractor, I can vouch for the importance of bathroom safety and the peace of mind a redesign can bring for you and your loved ones. Converting your current tub/shower combo into a zero-threshold shower is one of … Read more
Have you ever taken a count of how many doors you open, walk through, and close in a day? The answer may be surprising. If you have limited mobility, use a walking aid, or have arthritis in your hands and wrists, opening and closing doors could become a larger obstacle to your independence as you … Read more
Mounted automatic dispensers can be extremely beneficial in the aging-of-place home, and especially those who have arthritis. The most helpful feature is the automatic dispensing. It can be hard for older adults with arthritis to press in buttons or pumps on dispensers, so being able to automatically dispense products without using their hands works great. … Read more
Picking out ADA compliant shower head/handheld combos is important when upgrading the aging-in-place home. There are many different factors that play into picking the perfect shower system. One aspect to consider is weight. If your loved one struggles with arthritis or has trouble lifting heavy objects, the shower head has to be light enough for … Read more
If you are looking to upgrade the aging-in-place home, consider swapping out the pre-existing cabinet handles and drawer pulls for chrome handles. Chrome handles are stylish and sleek and can immediately make any room look more modern. They are also easier to grab and pull open compared to a small knob. If your loved one … Read more
If you are upgrading your loved one’s home to make it more aging-in-place friendly, switching out doorknobs for door levers is a great place to start. It can be hard for those with arthritis in their hands to grasp onto doorknobs and turn them without resulting in pain. Door levers are much easier to turn … Read more
Medical alert technology is a great idea for your loved ones who may live alone in an aging-in-place home. These different devices can alert medical professionals and family members that they need help in an emergency situation. There’s a variety of styles including lanyards, bracelets, or panic buttons. The Best Medical Alert Products Assistive Technology … Read more
Smart speakers are a great addition to the Aging-in-Place home. While some may try and stay away from newer technology, these speakers are easy to use and worth the money. Not only do smart speakers play music from multiple streaming services, they can also play audiobooks and podcasts. Many smart speakers come with Alexa or … Read more
If your loved one is struggling with the hassle of using small keys, perhaps because of arthritis or pain in the hands, smart locks are a great solution. Most smart locks can be controlled from a phone or use a keypad instead of a key to unlock, making it easier to lock and unlock. You … Read more
Shower Hose Extenders are an aging-in-place upgrade that serves a few beneficial purposes for your loved ones. They make cleaning showers or bathtubs extremely simple by allowing you to reach all corners of the area without reaching too far or risking slipping inside of the shower. Shower hose extenders also make it easier to wash … Read more
In the aging-in-place home, it’s important for your loved one to have a shower head that is versatile to perfectly fit their shower head style, and also adjust to the ideal height and angle. Making sure the shower head extension is easy to adjust and high quality to ensure no leaking or breaks is also … Read more
As your loved ones get older and their eyes start changing, it may be harder to see in the mirror when getting ready if it’s against the wall and unaccessible. Swing arm mirrors are a reliable solution for this problem. They are easy to move in and out and adjust to the perfect spot. Not … Read more
As we begin aging, our eyes start to change over time. These changes result in a need for improved lighting in the aging-in-place home, including brighter and high quality bulbs. Here are some great lighting products to consider for your next aging-in-place renovation project! To learn more lighting tips for your aging-in-place project, check out … Read more
9 Easy-to-Adjust Delta Faucets for Your Aging-in-Place Bathroom and Kitchen Serious, life-threatening burns from scalding tap water are up there among some of the most common household injuries. Most people solve this problem by turning down the temperature on their hot water heater. The trouble with that solution, though, is that some appliances – like … Read more
The stigma that ‘aging-in-place’ and ‘design’ can’t co-exist under one roof is the farthest thing from the truth. Gone are the days when older adults have to give up on the way their home looks in order to make it a safer place to live. That’s a big part of why I love what I … Read more
Innovations to Make Aging-in-Place with Arthritis Easier and Less Painful Arthritis doesn’t give old, sore hands a moment’s rest. Every movement you make is a reminder of how even small tasks like opening up a drawer can make living at home as you age so much harder. Smart aging-in-place design doesn’t just protect older adults … Read more
Few aging-in-place upgrades are as important as flooring. If your parent decides to age in place, installing slip-resistant floors throughout their home is non-negotiable. That’s because, unfortunately, slips and falls are an all-too-common cause of injury among older adults simply trying to make their way around the house. Most of the DIYers I talk with … Read more
It’s true that good aging-in-place design gives older adults the freedom to live at home safely and independently. But that doesn’t mean safety gets to kick style to the curb. How your parent feels about their home has a big impact on their mental wellbeing – just as big of an impact as aging-in-place upgrades … Read more
Creating a home where your parents can safely age in place is an amazing gift to give them. I promise you that doing the work yourself will result in an incredible feeling of achievement. But, that doesn’t mean you won’t make some mistakes along the way…probably a lot of them. And, that’s okay. That’s why … Read more
During an aging-in-place home renovation, there are the more obvious areas of the house that need remodeling – bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens are usually at the top of the list. From renovating aging-in-place homes for years now, I can tell you that those ‘other’ areas of the house – the ones that tend to get forgotten … Read more
You may not think much about running out of the house when you’re late for an appointment or walking in with an arm full of groceries. But, when you’re older, walking out the door and coming back inside start to become a challenge. Sore joints, mobility issues, and difficulty maintaining balance start to interfere with … Read more
I always tell the DIYers I work with that once your renovations are complete, the job of creating a safe aging-in-place home has just begun. Why? Because all it takes is one whirlwind of clutter sweeping across the living room to reduce your parent’s ability to stay safe. Keeping clutter at bay is as important … Read more
Safety is the big concern with every aging-in-place bathroom renovation. What many aging-in-place DIYers don’t realize, however, is that once the renovation is complete, the work to keep the bathroom safe is far from over – and the battle against bathroom clutter begins. Bathroom Clutter Creates Major Safety Issues for Older Adults Cluttered bathrooms and … Read more
Take a walk around your parent’s kitchen. Peek inside a few cabinets, look under the sink, and notice what’s on the countertop. Are you bombarded by clutter? If you are, then you have some work to do. A cluttered kitchen makes cooking and cleaning more difficult if your parent can’t find what they need. And, … Read more
Voice command technology is an aging-in-place game changer. It’s not possible to over-emphasize how integral this technology will be to aging-in-place design over the course of the next decade. Why? Imagine a friend comes to visit. When they arrive, they knock on the door waiting to enter the house. What if rather than walking over … Read more
Years after the aging-in-place trend first took off, and as more and more older adults choose to live at home as they age, I’m still surprised by how many misconceptions there are about aging-in-place design. These misconceptions have spurred major aging-in-place renovation myths and, as a result, confusion has taken hold. To make good decisions, … Read more
The goal of every one of my aging-in-place renovations is to create a home that older adults can live in safely and independently for years to come. Traditionally, aging-in-place design has focused almost exclusively on physical safety. Lately, though, many of my clients have mentioned the improvements some aging-in-place projects have made to their parent’s … Read more
Moving from a large family home into a smaller aging-in-place home can be difficult for so many reasons. It’s not so much about the number of items – and all of the memories – you have to sift through as you prepare for the next phase of your life. It’s also about relearning how to … Read more
As you’re planning your major aging-in-place home remodeling and renovation projects, my guess is that decluttering isn’t on your short list of to-dos. However, clutter can be a big safety issue in aging-in-place homes. The most obvious benefit of decluttering: removing clutter means you’re removing tripping hazards. Beyond physical safety, an aging-in-place home should care … Read more
When I begin a new aging-in-place home renovation project, my clients always want to talk about installing non-slip floors throughout the house, renovating the master bath to include a zero-threshold shower, adding lots of light, and other big projects. The same is true when I talk to DIYers. Less often do I get asked about … Read more
Imagine if your parents’ home had the intelligence to take care of them (almost) as well as you do. For the first time in history, we can control our homes with just the tap of a screen or the sound of our voice. Today, adults with mobility issues can see who’s at the door without … Read more
It’s not easy to get from the car to the front door and into the house without the help of exterior lighting. We’ve all been there – standing at the door in the dark fumbling for the house key and then struggling to fit the key into the doorknob. Now imagine yourself in that scenario … Read more
When you’re renovating to make your parent’s home safer as they age, the biggest challenge can many times be trying to create the ideal aging-in-place home within the constraints of the current floorplan. One such example – a small bathroom. Older homes don’t always have the big beautiful master baths that we’re used to seeing … Read more
Recessed lighting is a relatively cost-effective way to add a beautiful finishing touch to any room in the home. And yet this kind of lighting often gets placed in the home improvement box labeled ‘luxury’ and ignored by budget-conscious DIYers. The truth is that recessed lights are as economical and practical as they are stylish, … Read more
One of the most common questions I hear from aging-in-place DIYers is ‘where do I start?’. If you have the luxury of time and can afford to slowly make upgrades to an aging-in-place home, there’s no right or wrong answer. If, however, your parent is already in need of serious safety upgrades, my advice is … Read more
As people begin to age in their homes, there comes a time when either they or their family members start questioning whether staying home is the safest option, and rightfully so. Traditional homes offer many obstacles such as stairs, slippery floors, high cabinets, less-than-ideal lighting for aging eyes, and numerous other challenges for older adults. … Read more
I talk to experienced aging-in-place DIYers all of the time, and they always tell me the same thing – kitchen renovations are the most overwhelming part of their aging-in-place home upgrade. Even during a traditional kitchen renovation, there are countless design options and decisions to make. When you add in the aging-in-place requirements necessary to … Read more
Safety is always my number one focus when I’m renovating any aging-in-place home. And, nowhere is safety more critical for your parent than in the bathroom. The bathroom is by far the most common room in the home for an older adult to fall and become seriously injured. You can imagine how dangerous a wet … Read more
As we age, our eyes start to play tricks on us. It gets harder to see clearly, especially in low-lit rooms and this is compounded further by our reduced ability to define contrast in low light. You can imagine the dangers of an older adult trying to navigate a dark home. It’s a perfect recipe … Read more
Decades ago, thermostats were clunky boxes controlled by a mercury switch. They hung on the wall in just about every room in the house, and they were certainly nothing to look at. The thermostats I used growing up were always difficult to control and hard to read – even for young eyes. You can imagine … Read more
Light equals safety when you’re aging in place. Older eyes need more light than younger eyes, but it’s not just the quantity of the light that matters – it’s the quality of light and how it’s used around your home. Quality light also contributes to comfort, confidence and overall wellbeing. If your parent can see … Read more
Aging-in-place home lighting can be tricky. On one hand, your home needs to be well lit so you, your parent, or loved one can safely see where they’re going. However, as we age our eyes become more sensitive to light and even moderately bright lights can cause discomfort or headaches. An easy-to-use dimmer switch is … Read more
Kitchen cabinet pulls and bathroom drawer knobs are minor considerations in your overall DIY aging-in-place home renovation project, right? Wrong! Our hands stiffen and become sore with age – there’s no way around it. Large or small, any product you’re incorporating into your remodel that impacts an older adult’s hands needs to measure up to … Read more
Older adults slip and fall in the bathroom at a higher rate than any other room in the home. The bathroom can be a scary place for adults as they age. And the fear of falling in the shower or while at the sink is a real worry that often adds another layer of stress … Read more
What I love about aging-in-place design is the way a simple, easy home upgrade can instantly make a huge difference for an older adult. As a DIYer planning major aging-in-place upgrades, it’s easy to forget that there are a lot of simple things you can do to make aging-in-place safe and enjoyable. And, best of … Read more
Our job as aging-in-place builders and designers is to make life easier, less painful, and more comfortable for older adults. Something as simple as a smart storage solution that makes everyday household items easier to reach can help us make big progress towards this goal. Let’s take a look at the bathroom – the room … Read more
Believe it or not, it is possible to find aging-in-place kitchen flooring that’s safe, cost-effective and easy to install. Helping my clients find the right kitchen flooring material that checks all of these boxes is a big part of my job. If you’re a DIYer, however, and you don’t have a professional contractor by your … Read more
A relaxing shower can provide a lot of therapeutic health benefits for an older adult aging in place. However, it can also be one of the most dangerous activities your parent or loved one does each day. Building a shower with proper aging-in-place design features will help them live independently for a much longer period … Read more
I can’t overemphasize the importance of safety in the aging-in-place bathroom. It’s the most common room in the home for an older adult to get hurt and seriously injured. And it’s no surprise why. Bathroom floors easily get wet and showers have to withstand slippery soaps and shampoos that cling to the shower floor. Unless … Read more
Making decisions that impact the potential safety and wellbeing of your loved one as they age in place isn’t easy. When I talk with DIYers planning an aging-in-place home renovation, the stress of choosing the safest products seems especially high in the kitchen – a potentially dangerous room in the home where slips, falls and … Read more
Designing any kitchen – especially an aging-in-place kitchen – can be an extremely overwhelming task. Before you start sketching, shopping and comparing color swatches, keep in mind that there are really only three primary goals for an aging-in-place kitchen. Reduce Pain Increase Comfort Create a Safe Environment As you work through your aging-in-place kitchen plans, … Read more
When I talk with DIYers in the early planning stages of an aging-in-place bathroom renovation, they almost always ask me which bathroom faucets are the safest and which one they should buy. My answer: an ADA-compliant bathroom faucet from Delta. Why ADA-Compliant? Back in the ‘90s, the American Disabilities Act, or ADA, was passed mandating … Read more
When you set out to find the perfect shower faucet for your aging-in-place bathroom remodel, you’ll need to think beyond your parent’s favorite color, finish or style. In order for a bathroom faucet to be safe enough for an older adult to age in place successfully, shower faucets have to meet a set of strict … Read more
A fresh coat of paint is a beautiful thing. There’s no easier way to immediately make your surroundings look fresh and clean, and it can make a huge difference in the way older adults feel about their home. If you’re a DIY painting novice or if it’s been a while since you picked up a … Read more
For older adults aging in place, especially those living with arthritis, simple tasks like opening and closing doors can be extremely painful. Swapping out door knobs for easy-to-open door levers is a great way to immediately reduce the discomfort older adults with arthritis experience in their home. Installing a new door lever is almost always … Read more
Kitchens and bathrooms are notorious danger zones, but with the right type of flooring products, they don’t have to be. Here are four products that can improve your safety and elevate your quality of life in these rooms.
As we age, it’s natural for our eyes to begin to change. Those natural changes, however, affect everyone differently. Some older adults may not be able to make out small details like they once could, while others may develop an increased sensitivity to glare. The simple addition of lamps and light fixtures can help reduce … Read more
When approaching an aging-in-place remodel, it’s important that all homeowners take a look at their environment and identify potential obstacles that could impact their daily life. One of those obstacles may be the type of faucets and sinks around the home. Kitchen and bathroom faucets provide a unique challenge for aging adults. Limited dexterity, worsening … Read more
Toilets are sometimes seen as a one-size-fits-all fixture, but there are a variety of different styles that cater to the aging in place population.