furniture for aging in place
gdionelli
13 days ago
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gdionelli
13 days agoRelated Discussions
32"vs 34" doorways for aging in place
Comments (8)This isn't as easy as just saying, "Let's make the doors wide enough for a wheelchair". Consider: - What's easier than a large door? NO door. Obviously you want a door on your bedroom and bathroom . . . but look for places where you can ELIMINATE unnecessary doors; for example, extra doors in overly-compartmentalized bathrooms are a nighmare for people with walkers or wheelchaiars. Or, a compromise: Pocket doors, which you can leave open if mobility becomes a problem in the future. - If you find your doors aren't large enough, you can switch the hinges and get an extra 2" or so -- what're they called? Swing away hinges? - Remember that oversized doors take away space from furniture placement. If you're building a compact plan, this may matter to you. You are unlikely to end up using a wheelchair full-time, yet that's what people seem to plan for. More likely scenerios: - You're more likely to lose mobility due to the natural aging process rather than an accident. - You're more likely to need a cane than anything else. - You're more likely to need a walker than a wheelchair. - You're more likely to use a walker in the house and a wheelchair when you leave the house. - If you're using a wheelchair or wheelchair just for outings, do you have a spot by your everyday entrance where you can store your apparatus? These are big items to leave laying about. - If you're in a wheelchair only temporarily (or only for outings), you're likely to have an inexpensive manual chair; whereas, if you're in a wheelchair permanantly, you're probably going to spend on an electric chair. The electric chair is more narrow and needs less doorway space. - Walk-in closets and pantries are very popular, but will you be able to maneuver inside them if you need a walker or a wheelchair? Don't skimp on floorspace. - Garage doors matter too: If you end up in a wheelchair, you'll probably downsize to one vehicle. If you have ONE big garage door instead of two small ones, you'll be able to park in the middle of the garage and make use of the extra space to enter the vehicle. - Even if your garage entry is zero-degree entry, install grab-bars on both the inside and the outside. My grandmother had them, and they made an amazing difference for her. - Your floors may be more important than your doors -- they were for my grandmother, both for her walker and for her temporary wheelchair. A change from linoleum to carpet can cause a fall. Keeping your floors 100% flat is worth some effort. - Steps are an extension of your floors. Put effort into having at least one covered entrance (preferably your most convenient door, probably the one from the garage) that has no steps....See Morehow to place TV and furniture in this family room w corner fire place?
Comments (1)A sectional probably isn't the best bet for this layout. Keep the TV on that wall, but get a lower console (and a wider one should be 25-50% longer than TV). A sofa and two chairs would all for better traffic paths and feel more open....See MoreQuestions about Aging in Place?
Comments (29)Aging in place" is a general catch-all phrase that is not realistic as you won't know your actual needs as you age. You think you can plan but realistic those things that you do may not be enough or overkill in the long run. I've been going through this with both my elderly parents and my partners who are in their mid 80's. Both sets still live in their homes but both have very different needs for aging in place. To have outfitted their homes for "aging in place" earlier in their lives would not have necessarily met their needs now or would have been overkill. What we've done to help them age in their home has been done as they needed it. Grab bars for my parents, not my partners. Rug removal for my mom's walker, rugs still are down in the other parents home. Hand rails added at entrance at one parents home. I don't see these as "aging in place" but to address their current actual needs. My partners parents live in a 3 level home but at 87 yrs old they can still manage the stairs. They built this house in their mid 70's and when we discussed aging in place during the build, they told us that if they got to the point of not being able to use their house, they would move. They were more concerned about building the home they wanted and not concerned of what "may" happen in the future. A few years back I was going to build a home with "aging in place" in mind. To achieve this, this included, bathrooms basically doubling in size and wider hallways to accommodate a wheelchair, if necessary, and zero steps in the garage to the house. Realistically if you want a "AIP" home, isn't this really a home that addresses the same issues as a home for a person with disabilities, especially with one to accommodate a wheelchair, so are we just trying to reinvent the wheel or just adding a fancy name to it? My take away from my experiences is that if you want a home for "aging in place" have a single story house and deal with the rest when the time comes. As you may find later on that you what you thought your needs and wants would be for when you got older are no longer the same. You may find yourself wanting a different type of life style and/ or house situation or even a different city or state. Active Senior Retirement Community or condo, anyone?...See MoreLandscape design for aging in place
Comments (18)Great ideas. I've inherited my late grandparents' & then parents VERY run down home. It's like homage to the 1950s in here. The garden was an actual jungle, and don't get me started on the interior. I'm slowly refurbishing it, and taking care to choose items which will age with both the house and my family. (My son has profound disabilities). I have shared the link below to the before video so you can see how BAD it really is LOL. Before Video - ITS BAD The back garden is my biggest worry right now as it needs to be secure for my son, I also have to avoid toxic plants for both him and the dogs' sakes. It's a minefield for this non green - fingered Mum. (I'm in the UK). I'm thinking 6 foot high wooden fencing, with a raised, non toxic sensory bed for my son's benefit, but out of the dogs' way. I also need to replace the currently cracked concrete paths with something which is safe for him. He eats things he's not meant to, so exposed soil is out. (I was going to cover the beds with either stone or bark). All low budget suggestions appreciated. (PS I have decorated most rooms now, and am saving to replace the kitchen and bathroom, but that'll take a while. I have also cut back the jungle out back, but now the perimeter isn't secure, so my son can't use the outdoor space without constant supervision)....See Moregdionelli
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