A home interior that is warm and inviting, with plenty of natural light, is going to be easier to modify than one that has fewer possibilities – even if some of the elements need to be changed, reoriented, or updated..
Finding an aging in place home
We see many articles talking about how many homes are not built for aging in place. That’s not surprising. Actually, no home is built for aging in place because people age differently over time. However, some homes are easier to occupy and to adapt than others.
While we cannot identify a home that automatically will accommodate changing needs, because there is no way of knowing what those changing needs might be, some homes are going to be easier to modify than others.
Homes that are designed for easier navigation between rooms, those with wider hallways and doorways, ones with accessible door and cabinet pulls, and homes with good lighting are going to require less modification than more challenging homes, regardless of what someone might need to address their aging condition.
An existing home saves time
By working with a home that we already have – even if it requires significant modifications such as new lighting or plumbing upgrades, new appliances or fixtures, moving of walls or the addition of space, or flooring or lighting upgrades – this is easier and preferable to starting from scratch with a different dwelling.
As many people discovered during the Covid period when they worked or studied from home and spent a lot of time together, their home actually worked pretty well for them. To the extent that their home wasn’t perfect or ideal, they had a better idea of what to do to change or improve it so that it could continue to serve their needs.
Some people are going tp like almost everything about their home from the first day, and others are going to discover things they want to change. Regardless, working with an existing home, where we already have some experience, makes financial and emotional sense and eliminates house hunting and moving that would be required if the present home was not part of any future plans.