Most homeowners want to live in their homes as long as their health and finances allow. As you age, however, your home in its current state may not work for your physical limitations. You may have to make some modifications to your existing space or invest in an addition so your home fits your needs.

There is no surefire way to determine what you may need in the future. This basic checklist includes many of the most common necessities for older homeowners. It’s a good starting point to determine what changes you may need to make in your home.

• Space to accommodate a wheelchair, walker, or other assistive device. Keep in mind if you require any type of in-home assistance, the person needs enough room to move around so they can help you.
• What would make accessibility easier? Lowering shelves, sinks, or cabinets, purchasing modified furniture, or installing small details like grab bars in a bathroom or kitchen are little things that can make a big difference in maintaining your independence.
• Look at your doorways. Believe it or not, widening a doorway is a relatively stress-free way to improve your quality of life in your current home. Most doorways measure approximately 30 inches; adding a few more inches will make it much easier to maneuver a wheelchair, scooter, or other chair through the door.

One of the most common ways to modify your home so it is a safe, enjoyable, and useful space is to put all essential rooms (kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom) on one floor. Let’s look at a few ways to do this.

• Modify an existing bathroom. This is the easiest and most cost-effective way to remodel your home to meet your needs. A full-sized bathroom containing a tub/shower, sink, and toilet is significantly easier to modify than a half-bath. A full-sized bathroom usually has more room and can better accommodate a wheelchair, lift, or other assistive mobility devices if necessary. There are also more options for tubs and showers, such as grab bars, shower chairs, adjustable shower heads, step-in tub models, and anti-slip coating on the floor. Small bathrooms (often referred to as “half baths” or “powder rooms”) usually include a sink and toilet and have considerably less space.
• Convert a spare room into a bedroom. If you live in a ranch- or bungalow-style home, you may already have every room on one floor. This is a best-case scenario, and an existing bedroom would only need some minor modifications to suit your needs. Think grab bars next to the bed or upgraded lighting. If you have a 2-story home but want to move everything to one level, you should first identify the room you wish to convert. Dining rooms, laundry rooms, and sunporches are the most likely candidates for a bedroom remodel. It is also a good idea to clear out any clutter currently in the room you’re remodeling. It is important to access everything you need in the room, and if you need help in your home, a person coming into the room needs enough space to move around.
• Add a room (or two). If your home in its current state does not, or will not, meet your future needs, think about investing in an addition. First, what will you need? Will one room be adequate, or will you need an entire wing added to the home? Depending on the scope of the project, an addition can cost anywhere from $15,000 (to modify an existing space) to $100,000 for an extensive overhaul, such as an in-law suite.

When considering building an addition onto your home, there are a few things to keep in mind about the design and functionality of the new space:

• Make sure the design matches the look of your existing home. Aesthetics are important. The addition should work with the “flow” of your home in its current state. The new addition should be just that—an add-on to the existing structure, not something that was simply stuck on to one of the rooms. Building an addition that sticks out strangely or draws unwanted attention to your home is not the look you want. Also, you may have to apply for a permit to build the addition. Many municipalities require a permit prior to home construction. Depending on where you live, there may be guidelines for aesthetics or other elements of a design which you must follow.
• The new addition should serve a purpose. Make sure the added space is exactly what you want and contains all the essentials you need for your stage of life. You should work with a contractor who has experience in building additions onto homes and can make the right suggestions for what you need.

Sovereign Construction specializes in additions to make your home as livable as possible, for as long as possible. Owner Steve Rush is available for a consultation to determine what modifications or additions can be done to your home to make it comfortable and adequate for your needs. Call Sovereign Construction at 610-639-2986.