Aging in Place House Plans: Ideas for Your Home

A strategic aging in place house plan is essential for making the most out of your decision to age in the comfort of your own home. However, with so many customizations and considerations, ticking all the boxes to ensure success can be easier said than done. We’ve rounded up some of the most important house planning tips for aging in place to help you make your home as accessible as possible.

1. Work Around Steps and Stairs

Steps and stairs inside and outside of the home can quickly become a safety hazard for people who choose to age in place. Implementing alternatives to circumvent the use of steps wherever possible is the best way to avoid tripping and falling. You have several options for working around steps and stairs:

• Choose a single-level home design.

• Build a wheelchair ramp to replace stairs.

• Use low-profile transitions between entryways to avoid stepping over ledges.

• Install a home elevator to move between floors.

• Put a stair lift on the stairs to go up and down.

• Use a dumbwaiter to transport items between floors.

2. Widen Doorways and Hallways

Many older homeowners require additional doorway and hallway space. Two people can walk side-by-side in wider hallways, which helps those who are hard of hearing to better communicate. 

Another benefit is that wider doors make it easier to maneuver a wheelchair. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) states that wheelchair passages should be at least 32 inches wide and hallways should be at least 36 inches wide. Work with a remodel design company near you to correctly execute a hall and doorway expansion that meets the ADA’s guidelines. 

3. Swap Doorknobs with Door Handles

The twisting motion of traditional doorknobs can be challenging for seniors with arthritis or other conditions. By replacing doorknobs with lever door handles, you can reduce the amount of motion needed to open doors.

4. Switch to Walk-In Showers and Baths

A bathroom remodel for seniors requires ample planning, as it’s especially easy to slip and fall in poorly planned bathrooms. Installing a walk-in bathtub or shower will make your bathroom much safer and easier to use. A walk-in bathtub costs around $9,000 on average, but this home renovation cost can greatly reduce fall risks while providing massaging features if you opt for a tub with jets. 

If you install a walk-in shower, be sure to also install grab bars and a seat. Likewise, installing a hand shower helps with cleaning hard-to-reach spaces and showering in a wheelchair.

5. Adjust Heights 

Plan to adjust the height of various parts of your bathroom and kitchen. Generally, aging-in-place kitchen designs require lower cabinets and sinks than standard kitchens to accommodate wheelchairs, while comfort height toilets should be higher than average. Here are ADA standards for aging-in-place house plans:

• Toilet heights: Between 17 and 19 inches 

• Sink heights: Up to 34 inches above the floor

• Bottom counter heights: Up to 34 inches tall

• Upper cabinet heights: Up to 48 inches tall

6. Use Accessible Appliances

Appliances like ovens, washers, and dryers can be hard to lift and lower for anyone in a wheelchair or with reduced mobility. Your best bet is to purchase appliances that open from the side rather than vertically.

7. Set Up Smart Technology

Smart technology provides seniors with more options than ever to control their homes via their smartphones. You can use smart technology for home monitoring and safety, and smart home automation can help you remember routine home maintenance. Here are some examples of smart technology that can help you age in place comfortably:

• Motion-activated lighting

• Timed lighting

• Remote-control blinds

• Video doorbells

• Security system surveillance cameras

• Motion sensors

• Thermostats

• Smoke detectors

8. Pick the Right Flooring

High-pile carpet is a no-go in a home geared toward aging family members. Not only does it make using a wheelchair very difficult, it can also be a tripping hazard. Install hardwood flooring for smooth gliding for wheelchair users and use slip-resistant flooring wherever possible—especially in kitchens and bathrooms. 

9. Consider Your Landscape Design, Too

Forgetting to plan a landscape design for the elderly can mean limited exercise and sunshine. To make a wheelchair-accessible backyard, you’ll need to create wide walkways and ensure the yard is level. You may also want to increase shade coverage, build a deck or patio, add seating, and plant colorful and fragrant plants.