Last month I had the privilege of hosting a panel on Ageing in the Right Place with esteemed guests; we had a well-known financial expert and an internationally recognized geriatrician, but once cameras stopped rolling most questions were directed at designer Andrew Pike. Below, I try to summarize his top 3 tips (there are many more) for creating a home that’s beautiful, functional, and ready to adapt as your needs change. I hope you find them helpful.
1. Future-Proof Your Bathroom
If you’re renovating a bathroom, think ahead. Reinforce walls so grab bars can easily be added later, consider a barrier-free shower, add a built-in bench, and make the shower entrance wide enough to accommodate changing mobility needs.
And these features don’t have to look clinical. As Andrew points out, good accessible design can simply look like good design. Canadian bathroom renovations currently average about $14,500, with many projects ranging from $8,500 to $21,000 depending on scope and finishes.
2. Light The Way
Good lighting can make a significant difference to how comfortably you navigate your home.
Andrew recommends simple ideas such as motion-activated lighting near the bed and low-level lighting under bathroom vanities to create a softly illuminated path at night.
It’s a relatively subtle design choice that’s useful at any age. These can be very cost-effective, with lighting options easily found online or at a local hardware store for less than $100. They probably would have saved my 83-year-old aunt from a nasty fall this spring.
3. Renovate For Your Life, Not The Next Owner
Perhaps Andrew’s best advice: stop designing your home around resale if you aren’t planning to sell. If you don’t use the dining room, rethink it. If you’ll never use that expensive soaker tub, don’t install it. Instead, spend your renovation dollars on the spaces and features that will help you enjoy your home.
Could Your Home Help Pay For The Renovation?
For homeowners 55+, one potential source of renovation funding is the equity already built up in their home. If you’ve previously explored a reverse mortgage with HomeEquity Bank, it may be worth revisiting your options.
For more expert insights, watch the full webinar, or call 1-844-675-4321 to explore how a reverse mortgage could help cover the cost of renovations that support aging in place.
Sincerely,
Yvonne Ziomecki-Fisher
Chief Customer, Brand & Advice Officer
HomeEquity Bank