Top 5 Features to Look for in Your Forever Home

If you’re older and looking for your forever home, chances are you intend on aging in place.

What does this mean? It means you want a house you can live in comfortably for many years. You want to be able to stay there as long as possible throughout your senior decades.

If this is your aim, there are key features you need to be looking for when buying a house. These will make life easier as you age, and will enable you to live on your own for the foreseeable future.

The 5 Home Features You Need for Aging in Place

You absolutely can age in place – you just need a home that’s outfitted for your lifestyle. Planning for physical limitations now means that you will get to enjoy your new home for a long, long time.

1. A One-Story House

The fewer steps you have to contend with as you age, the better. As your mobility decreases, you’ll be thankful for how easy it is to maneuver around your forever home with no dangerous staircases to worry about.

If you can, avoid steps leading up to your entry, too. This will make your home both wheelchair and walker accessible.

2. Non-Slip Flooring

Falls are one of the biggest worries for seniors who live on their own. You can limit the risks of falls if you choose a home with non-slip flooring that’s comfortable to walk on.

Just say no to tile, concrete, or floors. These are hard materials that are unforgiving in the event of a fall. Floors with more give, like wood or linoleum, are better bets and are easier on the joints.

3. Helpful Cabinetry and Handy Door Pulls

As you age, it can become harder to stoop or kneel to peer into cupboards. As such, cabinets with handy pull-out drawers can make looking for what you need much easier. Look for kitchens with these helpers as well as cabinets that are located at accessible heights (i.e. they’re not too tall).

If the home has lever door handles (as opposed to knobs), this is a big plus. Knobs are much harder on arthritic hands and wrists.

4. Wide Passages and Doorways

For your forever home, avoid dwellings with narrow, tight spaces. Tiny doorways and hallways will become inaccessible if you ever need a wheelchair. Homes with wider clearances will make it easier to move around.

5. A Walk-In Shower

As you age, a walk-in shower will be much easier to get into than a tub with a tall lip. Don’t forget to look for bathrooms with grab bars and non-slip surfaces (although you can always add these yourself after you move in).

Make These Home Buying Considerations and Age Gracefully in Place

All of these features can make staying in your own home longer a possibility. As you age, you’ll love having a house that makes getting around simple.