Six Important Factors for Happy Housing in Your Golden Years

As a professional organizer, one of my main objectives is to assist clients in creating optimized living situations. One important factor I always take into consideration is the stage of life. Do they have small children? Do they work from home? Are they approaching retirement? Each stage has specific needs that should be addressed. At a recent meeting of the Connecticut chapter of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO-CT), Kathy Moniello of The Forevermore Team of Coldwell Banker shared insights on creating safe, accessible homes for seniors. I came away with six important factors for happy housing in your golden years which I hope will be helpful for you or someone you know.

Many people entering their golden years wonder if they should stay in their home, downsize, or move to a senior living community. This can be a complex question to answer, with many factors impacting the decision. However, I loved Kathy’s way of thinking about the goal: living in the home of your choice while maintaining your best quality of life, and experiencing a sense of physical, financial, and emotional well-being. Digging a bit deeper, this means finding a living situation that offers:

• A minimized risk of falls and accidents
• Effectively managed health and wellness
• Good nutrition
• The ability to receive assistance with daily activities as needed
• Maximized independence
• Connection with friends, family, and community
• Financial security
• Reliable transportation

Kathy then went on to describe six specific factors that seniors should be looking for when considering housing options.

#1 One Level Living

Living in a home where you can perform all your daily tasks on one level is highly desirable. Specifically, one level living:

• Eliminates the need for stairs, which reduces tripping and falling risk.
• Simplifies daily routines and mobility.
• Is ideal for people who use walkers, canes, or wheelchairs
• Promotes independence and ease of access to all rooms.

#2 Low Threshold, Covered Entry

The path of travel through which we move into and out of our home is very important. This should be as easy as possible. No one wants to feel like leaving their home is equivalent to taking a risk. Ideally, a happy home for seniors will feature:

• A step-free or low-step entry to reduce tripping and falling risk. (Note: If a wheelchair ramp is needed, the lower the threshold, the shorter a ramp will need to be.)
• A covered entryway that provides protection from the weather and improved visibility for safe, unhurried entry and egress.
• Dignified entry and exit for all mobility levels.

#3 Wide Doorways

One thing we may fail to notice when looking at homes, especially the ones we currently have, is the width of our doorways. Even a house that is all on one level may still be hard for seniors and their caregivers to navigate because the doorways are too narrow.

The rule of thumb is that doorways need to be a minimum of 32-36” to accommodate mobility devices.

#4 Accessible Bathrooms

Bathrooms can become a real challenge for seniors because they tend to be small, wet, and crowded. Sadly, accidents in bathrooms are common. As you consider the bathrooms in a senior living option, be sure to look for:

• Curb-less showers. The last thing you want is for a senior to have to step up and over a curb to get into/out of the shower. Even a couple of inches can be a real tripping hazard, especially for wet/bare feet.

• Grab bars and non-slip flooring. The good news is that these are fairly easy to retrofit.

• Handheld showers and shower benches. Many seniors find standing difficult, and standing in a wet environment is dangerous.

• Floorspace. Since many seniors require the support of a caregiver for bathing and toileting, the toilet and shower areas should be large enough to accommodate two people. If one person can barely squeeze into a home’s bathroom, this is likely to become an issue.

#5 Space for an In-home Caregiver

For those who plan to age in place, it is wise to plan your space to accommodate a professional caregiver to live and work in the home. A few things you will want to provide include:

• A dedicated room or flexible space for either a live-in or visiting caregiver.

• A setup that provides privacy and comfort for both the caregiver and the senior(s).

• Flexibility to make changes that might be necessary to support long-term care needs without relocation.

#6 Location That Isn’t Too Isolated

The need for community is important at every age. Human interaction keeps our brains active, provides accountability, and brings joy to life. Unfortunately, as we age and potentially face medical and mobility challenges, the temptation can be to withdraw and rarely leave the home.

A happy home for senior living will feature:

• Proximity to friends, family, and social activities. Seniors who live far from these things are at higher risk of rapid deterioration.

• Access to transportation, healthcare, and shopping/services. Ideally, seniors will find a living situation that allows them to be active without having to drive themselves. This might be anything from a van that picks up and drops off at local destinations to on-site offerings. Additionally, be aware of how far it is to doctors, therapists, hospitals, etc.

• Walk-ability. Walkable living environments encourage independence.

• Social interaction. Physical design is typically not enough for happy senior living. We all need to see and interact with other people to keep our minds and bodies sharp. Many towns have well-developed programs to support seniors living in their homes, and many seniors who have lived for a long time in a community have access to faith-based and/or recreational social networks. However, if you currently lack this type of network, a senior living community may be a better option.

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Now that you know what to look for, you can begin to consider the various options available to you.

Many begin by assessing the viability of aging in place, which means staying in the place where you currently live. Does your home offer these six important factors? If not, can your current situation be adapted to meet them? Would such changes be within your budget? If you aren’t sure, you can consult a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS), an expert in this area who can provide an analysis of what modifications might be needed and how much they will cost.

Additionally, it is a good idea to get a professional home inspection so you are aware of what maintenance tasks may soon be required, and how much investment this will necessitate. Furthermore, be honest about your desire to maintain your space going forward. Taking care of a home (and potentially a yard) is work, and you should be clear about who will be owning the responsibility for this. Don’t just assume your family will do it for you.

If you think relocating might be a better choice than retrofitting, you can explore both private housing options and potential senior living communities.

If you look at private housing, remember to bear in mind the six important factors listed above to ensure that your new home is appropriately designed (e.g., a smaller home have less maintenance but still lack a sufficiently large bathroom).

Most senior living communities offer free tours and will provide cost and contract information for you to review. If this process feels overwhelming, you can consult a lifecare manager in your area. These are experts in all aspects of senior living and are familiar with the “pros and cons” of all of the various senior communities in the local service area.

Also, if you decide to downsize or move, remember that you don’t have to do it all alone. Professional organizers can come alongside and help you declutter, plan, move, and unpack. There is also an association of professionals who specialize in this process called NASMM.

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The process of choosing your “forever home” can feel intimidating but remember that the entire process will always be easier the sooner you start. I hope that being aware of these six important factors will help you choose the happiest location in which to spend your golden years.

Does your home offer these six factors? What others might you add?