Lifestyle
12 checks to ensure your home is a great place to grow old in
Home design will become increasingly important as our population ages and residential aged care shortages remain in crisis. This handy guide will let you know if your home – or your parents’ – will be a suitable place to stay.
By Sabrina Rogers-Anderson
If you’re like the vast majority of Australians you’ll want to live at home as long as possible. To do that you’ll need to check whether your home is a place where you can safely get older without the worry of trips, falls or inaccessible areas.
Research by the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute revealed that between 78 and 81% of Australians aged 55 and over want to remain in their own home as they get older rather than going into residential care.
Reasons for wanting to stay at home include being familiar with the local neighbourhood and community, and wanting to stay close to family, friends, shops, transportation and health services.
While ageing in place can offer a range of benefits – including maintaining autonomy, a sense of identity and social connections – it’s vital to perform a series of checks to ensure your property is safe and accessible.
“My family kept telling me that I needed to move to a more suitable home, or at least make some modifications to the house I’d been living in for 25 years, but I thought I had plenty of time,” says 78-year-old Sue. “I had a stroke 3 years ago and I have to use a walker, so we had to scramble to make modifications so I could keep living there. It was stressful and I wish I’d done it sooner. But don't tell my family I said they were right!”
Small kitchens that don’t have large circulation spaces are not as accessible as kitchens with at least a metre of space between cabinets.
6 design features that are essential for ageing in place
In an effort to address the shortage of accessible housing in Australia, livable housing design requirements were introduced into the National Construction Code (NCC) for the first time in 2022.
Whether you’re conducting an accessibility check on your existing home or you’re considering moving to a new dwelling, these are the 6 main points you should consider.
While these design standards for new builds are a step in the right direction, not all states and territories have committed to implementing them yet.
The accessible design features included in NCC 2022 are:
- A step-free path to the home entrance
- At least one step-free entry into the home
- Wider internal doorways and corridors
- An accessible toilet
- A hobless (step-free) shower
- Wall reinforcing in bathrooms and toilets to allow for grab rail installation in the future
Ramps don’t have to be ugly and they make a home more accessible for prams, walkers and wheelchairs as well as people with mobility issues.
Top accessibility tips for the 3 main areas of the home
As an occupational therapist, Brianah Price evaluates the accessibility of her clients’ houses and recommends modifications.
“The biggest issue by far is steps,” she says. “Some people want to stay in their multi-level home, but it’s best to avoid it. You can have a stair lift installed, but you have to be in the position to pay for it yourself or have decent savings from your Home Care Package which can take time.”
Here are Brianah’s top accessibility tips for the 3 main areas of the home covered in the NCC 2022:
1. Install a ramp at the home entrance
“If there are steps leading towards or at the entrance, your best bet is to install a ramp,” says Brianah. “But if there isn’t enough space for a ramp, there's not much you can do other than add a grab rail to help you climb up the steps.”
Other options include entering through the garage if it’s level or placing a rubber threshold ramp against a small doorsill.
2. Keep the bathroom accessible
A level shower area is a great way to enable home carers to help bathe people with mobility issues.
The bathroom is another major risk area, particularly when it comes to the shower entry.
“Fibreglass shower bases [with hobs you have to step over] are a nightmare because you can't really do anything to them without getting expensive equipment or modifications,” says Brianah. “Walk-in showers with a completely level entry are best, or with as small of a threshold as possible so you can put a ramp up against it.”
You should also consider the size of the bathroom. “Compact ensuites don’t allow circulation space for 4-wheel walkers,” Brianah explains. “If the bathroom is small, a sliding door can give you more space than a swing door.”
You’ve probably never considered the height of your toilet, but you should now. “There's lots you can do to increase the height of a toilet, but if the toilet is too high, there’s not much you can do.”
Read more on creating a brain-friendly bathroom for people who have cognitive issues.
3. Keep doorways and hallways wide
Keeping homes open with walkways wider than 800 mm is best.
Old houses often have narrow doorways and corridors that won’t accommodate a walker or a wheelchair.
“If they’re less than 800 mm wide, you'll struggle to get through,” says Brianah.
6 extra accessibility features to consider
After evaluating hundreds of homes, Brianah has found that the following design features are often overlooked when it comes to making a dwelling safe and accessible:
1. Lighting matters
“If you’re choosing a new home, it’s worth considering the lighting,” says Brianah. “But if you find a good space with bad lighting, we can generally upgrade the lighting through Aged Care funding.”
Hard floors like timber or polished concrete - with no dangerous lips or steps - are best. When it comes to carpet, get low-pile carpet.
2. Go low on the carpet
Thick pile carpet can be tricky if you're pushing a walker or wheelchair because it can be resistive, notes Brianah. “A low-pile carpet is easier and safer.”
3. Aircon all the way
“As you age, your internal body temperature drops,” she says. “Aircon and heating can help you stay comfortable.”
4. Automate the garage
Brianah recommends avoiding a property with a manual garage door because it’s “a disaster waiting to happen”.
5. Keep the kitchen cooking
If you have a walker or a wheelchair, an open-plan kitchen is ideal so you have enough space to move around.
“Kitchen benches that overhang and allow you to sit on a stool to do meal preparation can help with fatigue management,” says Brianah. “So can a dishwasher so you don’t have to stand at the sink to wash up.”
You should also consider the height of your cooking appliances. “Placing your microwave above your shoulder level isn’t ideal because lifting hot dishes out and down isn't very safe,” she says. “Nearly every one of my clients uses an airfryer now because it's easier than having to lift things out of the oven.”
Beyond major modifications, there’s also a wide range of assistive technology that can make your life easier in the kitchen. “If you're not able to carry your pots and pans or even your plates to the dining table, you can get a tray walker,” says Brianah. “There are also tipping kettles, one-handed cutting boards and so much more.”
Read more on Citro’s technology to help your parents age in place.
6. Grab onto your outdoor area
If you have several levels or a deck, grab rails can help you get around. “But most people are reluctant to install them because they don’t look nice,” says Brianah.
She recommends staying away from pavers because they risk becoming uneven over time and can be a tripping hazard. “Concrete surfaces are ideal,” she explains. “You should also declutter your outdoor area and create a nice clear path with enough space to walk around.”
Preparing your forever home
If you’re unsure whether your current home can be modified to allow you to live safely and comfortably in it for years to come, an occupational therapist, architect or carer can help evaluate it for you and make personalised recommendations.
But if you’re planning to downsize, print out this article and bring it with you when you’re visiting potential new homes. A little planning can save future you a lot of time and effort.
You might also like:
From hydration to hazards: 6 must-try home hacks