When you’re building or buying a home in your 30s, it’s hard to know what you’ll need in your 70s.
Elements you include in a house now, though, can help it remain a comfortable place to live for years to come.
Although it’s less expensive to incorporate them when a house is built, some can be added to an existing home.
Here are some features to consider adding to help a house age gracefully. They were suggested by Rose Juriga, Mike Simko, the American Association of Retired Persons and the Center for Universal Design:
General
– Plenty of strategically placed lighting, both natural and artificial.
– Lever handles on faucets, doors.
– Doorways with a clear opening of at least 32 inches.
– Doors that require no more than 5 pounds of force to open.
– Rocker-type light switches positioned 44 to 48 inches above the floor.
– Electrical outlets 18 inches above the floor.
– Easy-to-operate windows, positioned low for a good view.
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– Continuous floor surfaces.
– Thresholds no higher than one-half inch.
– Well-lighted closets with adjustable-height rods and shelves.
– Accessible route throughout the house, at least 42 inches wide.
– High-contrast, glare-free floor surfaces and trim.
– 5-by-5-foot maneuvering space in all rooms and at the house entrance.
– Extra electrical circuits to handle the load of medical equipment (or, for that matter, the kids’ high-powered computers).
Entrance
– Accessible route from vehicle drop-off or parking.
– Covered entry.
– Full-length sidelight to see out.
– Lighting focused at keyhole.
– Textured surface on sidewalk.
– First-floor entrance without steps (graded if necessary) and as low a threshold as possible.
– Non-slip floor in the foyer.
– Highly visible address.
Stairs
– Minimum height allowed by code for risers.
– Railings on both sides.
– No open risers.
– Indirect lighting that shines uniformly on the steps but doesn’t create glare.
Master bedroom
– First-floor location.
– Access to exterior in case of emergency.
– Intercom/music system convenient to bed.
Kitchen
– Multilevel work areas (25 to 45 inches high) to accommodate children, seated people and standing people.
– Open spaces beneath seated work areas.
– Task lighting.
– Cabinets lowered three inches from conventional height.
– Knobs or U-shaped cabinet pulls; no latching devices.
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– Shelving that pulls out or down.
– Contrasting border on counter top to aid visual orientation.
– Stretches of continuous counter for sliding heavy objects.
– Front-mounted controls on appliances.
Bathrooms
– Large sliding pocket door.
– Slip-resistant flooring.
– Tub with easy access, a non-skid surface and safety rails, or at least reinforced walls for adding rails later.
– Toilet 18 inches from side wall, with 18-inch-high seat and safety rails or reinforced walls.
– 32-inch minimum counter height and knee space under sink.
– Mirror that extends all the way down to the back splash.
– Shower with low threshold, fold-down seat with lightweight hand-held shower head and other accessories within easy reach.
– Mixer valve with pressure balancing and hot water limiter.