Home Modifications to Consider Now—Before You Need Them
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As we go through different life stages, there are a variety of home modifications we make so our space can adapt to our needs. When you have a newborn or a toddler, you baby-proof your kitchen, living room, and nursery to keep them safe. When you get a puppy or a kitten, you incorporate must-have pet products to nurture their instincts and keep them healthy. When kids grow into their teens and twenties, you may alter your storage; opt for ergonomic office solutions; turn playrooms into flex spaces where they can hang out with friends; and more.
As we age in general, the same is true: There are must-have home modifications you’ll want to make to keep your routines easier, more comfortable, and less of a hassle down the road. And while it may seem like that’s in the far off future, it’s worth considering checking off a few updates now in order to keep life’s transitions simpler and more affordable overall. To help jump-start your planning, we spoke to the experts at Home Instead, a global home care franchise network that helps aging adults live safely and independently at home. They’ve shared their pro tips on thoughtful upgrades that can benefit your everyday spaces, including some tasteful design choices that will improve your home function, too! That way, you or your loved ones are prepared for the next chapter before it even begins.
To Start: Why Stay at Home as You Age?
There are many reasons why someone would choose to live at home while they age. “For so many older adults, home is much more than a physical house,” says Dr. Lakelyn Hogan Eichenberger, PhD, Gerontologist, and Caregiver Advocate at Home Instead. “It’s where memories have been made, but it’s also connected to their identity, routines, neighbors, community, and sense of independence.”
And there are also a bounty of benefits that come with the decision to stay at home—like maintaining autonomy, improved quality of life, and a sense of familiarity. “Ultimately, I think it’s about choice. We want older adults to have a voice in where and how they live as they age and to have the right support around them to help make that choice possible,” she says.
So, When Is the Right Time to Think About Home Modifications?
It can feel intimidating to try and determine exactly what types of modifications you or a loved one should make and when it’s best to make them, but it doesn’t have to be. “I always encourage people to think about home modifications before there is an urgent need,” says Dr. Hogan-Eichenberger. “I think it helps to remind people that planning ahead doesn’t mean we’re expecting something bad to happen. We’re simply giving ourselves more options if our needs change.”
“Planning early doesn’t mean renovating the entire house tomorrow. It gives you time to identify priorities and make thoughtful changes gradually,” she adds.
How to Determine Which Home Modifications Are Best for You
To start, step back and evaluate your home. “Look at things like stairs, bathrooms, lighting, flooring, and entrances and ask, ‘Will this home continue to work for me as I get older?’” Dr. Hogan Eichenberger says. Take into account you or your loved one’s unique needs, circumstances, and layout, and anticipate future demands. Here are a few ways to think it through.
1. Start With Safety
“I think a great place to start is by looking at the areas of the home where safety risks tend to show up most often. Bathrooms and kitchens are two important places to pay attention to, along with stairs, entrances, and any areas where there may be uneven flooring, poor lighting, or trip hazards,” Dr. Hogan Eichenberger says.
2. Analyze Your Everyday Routine
Then, go a step further. Walk through a normal daily routine, and take note of the usual tasks—no matter how small or inconsequential they might seem. This might include the usual way of getting out of bed; the lighting on the pathway to the bathroom; and any steep stairs, drop-offs, or slippery areas.
3. Now, Examine the Home Layout
Is there frequent bending to get things out of cabinets? Daily laundry runs up and down the stairs? What’s it look like to go outside, grab the mail, or bring groceries inside the house? “Those everyday routines can uncover challenges you might otherwise miss,” Dr. Hogan Eichenberger says.
4. Consider Personal Needs
“Then consider [you or] the person’s mobility, balance, vision, hearing, strength, cognition, and health conditions to help determine which changes should be prioritized,” she says. Whether that’s installing lighting on the stairs, grab bars in bathrooms, or a shower bench, the additions made should help make life easier, not more difficult.
Home Modifications You Can Make Right Now
“The reality is that most homes weren’t designed with our needs later in life in mind. When you’re buying your dream home in your 20s, 30s, or 40s, you’re probably thinking about raising a family, entertaining, or having enough bedrooms and storage,” Dr. Hogan Eichenberger says. “You’re likely not thinking about how that same home will work for you in your third chapter of life.”
There are several simple things you or a loved one can add into the home setting now to help make things easier, more streamlined, and safer overall if and when these needs change. Some can even be done in one laid-back afternoon.
Remove Trip Hazards
This may go without saying, but removing trip hazards is a small effort that makes a huge impact! Clutter, clothes piles, cables and wires, uneven surfaces—all of these obstacles can cause unassuming harm. Remove and organize them, and keep your walkways clear.
Add In Extra Seating
“Don’t forget the small things…A place to sit near an entrance while putting on shoes can make everyday life a little easier,” says Dr. Hogan Eichenberger. Just like seating near the door, you can also add in a chair or stool near the cooking area or a fold-out shower chair.
Improve Lighting in Frequently Used Areas
Depending on the home layout, nearly every space should get some improved lighting. You can use plug-in lighting to help light the pathway from the bedroom to the bathroom; install under-cabinet or wall-mount solutions to illuminate the kitchen cooktop and work spaces for better visibility; install solar path lighting in the backyard or front walkways; and add in better lighting on the stairs to keep things bright and visible.
Install Grab Bars, Stair Handrails, and Helpful Support Features
Support features are incredibly helpful when it comes to future-proofing the home. Be sure to install easy support additions, like grab bars near toilets and showers, as well as a sturdy handrail in every staircase zone. And if you happen to be renovating a bathroom, consider layering in the blocking you’d need for a grab bar later—even if you don’t install it at this moment, you’ll have the foundation covered for easy updating later.
Set Up Pull-Out Shelves in the Kitchen
Installing pull-out shelves in the cooking space is actually a simple DIY, and one that really pays off in everyday comfort. Use them inside high or low cabinets for easier reaching, and to help minimize discomfort from frequent bending down.
Replace Round Doorknobs With Lever Handles
It may seem insignificant, but the small things like doorknobs really matter! Lever handles will be much less complicated to use on the daily, and require less hand strength, grip, and dexterity to use than round ones.
Use Anti-Slip Mats on Slick Surfaces
For those places in the house that get extra slippery, it’s an easy fix to make them a bit more sound. Bathroom showers and tubs should get anti-slip mats; likewise in the kitchen area near the sink. Be sure each rug has grip pads underneath to keep it in place; and add in anti-slip stair treads if necessary.
More Home Modification Ideas
Any home modification decisions you make will largely be dependent on specific circumstances and lifestyles. Above all else, though, the best remodeling ideas for aging at home will help you adapt to this next chapter of life safely, on your own terms.
Smart Home Additions to Consider
“There are so many new technologies available, but I always come back to the question: What is going to make everyday life easier? Technology should support independence, not make the home more complicated,” Dr. Hogan Eichenberger says. See below for smart home additions you can make that are easy to install and helpful to use.
Motion-Activated Lights
“Smart or motion-activated lights can illuminate a hallway or the path to the bathroom without someone having to search for a switch in the dark,” says Dr. Hogan Eichenberger. It’s an easy switch that takes the guessing game out of lighting additions.
Video Doorbells and Smart Door Locks
Useful tools like video doorbells and smart door locks can help provide an added layer of safety, and can be helpful for both you and your family members in case of an emergency.
Leak Detectors
This is one of Jonathan’s favorite devices. He even uses them at his own house! Smart leak detectors will alert you if there is ever a plumbing or water leak at your property, and some models will even automatically shut off the water from the source—even when you’re not home.
Emergency Response Devices
These are incredibly important for safety and wellbeing. Just like fire alarm systems or carbon monoxide detectors, emergency response devices will help keep you prepared and protected round-the-clock in case of an unexpected emergency.
Smart Displays or Voice-Controlled Tech
“Voice-controlled technology can help with turning on lights, adjusting the thermostat, making a phone call, or setting a reminder,” says Dr. Hogan Eichenberger. Likewise, smart displays can provide helpful reminders or prompts, and offer a one-spot hub for everything needed to keep the house in order.
How to Make Home Modifications Fit Your Design Style
There are plenty of thoughtful updates that can be made that won’t derail the design scheme, either. Sleek chair lifts and grab bars that match existing bath fixtures; attractive walk-in tub designs; and even pretty motion-activated lights will only add to the existing decor—there are so many more chic options out there to consider now.
Search for products that match the existing colors, textures, or wood tones; and be sure to read reviews before purchasing to make sure it’s a worthwhile buy. Just like with any home remodel decision, the home modification products chosen should feel authentic to you and your style.
Advice for Helping a Loved One Through the Transition
Are you hoping to encourage a friend or family member to make helpful tweaks to their space? It may feel awkward to talk about at first, but there are some easy ways to set up the conversation thoughtfully.
“Start by remembering that it’s their home and their life. Ask permission before making changes, offer choices, and include them throughout the decision-making process,” says Dr. Hogan Eichenberger.
Approach the conversation as you would any other—with love, respect, and honesty—and ask about the kind of help they want before giving it.
“I also think it’s important to ask what matters most to the person. Family members may be focused primarily on safety, while the older adult may be thinking about being able to cook their own meals, work in their garden, entertain friends, or continue using a favorite room. Those quality-of-life priorities matter too,” she says.
“And remember, staying at home as you age usually isn’t about one renovation or one solution. It may be a combination of thoughtful home modifications, technology, family and community support, and professional home care,” says Dr. Hogan Eichenberger. “The goal is to create an environment that can continue to support how you want to live as you get older.”
Head over to Home Instead to find everything you need to get started—including simple design swaps, tips to make the transition easy, questions to discuss together, as well as a handy home safety checklist. This way, you or your loved one can be prepared for the road ahead—and actually enjoy the ride.
Bree Pulver O'Hagan
Bree is the Senior Digital Editor at DrewandJonathan.com. In the past, she’s worked for publications focused on home improvement and sustainable living. Bree’s Pinterest board is filled with cozy textures; vintage patterns; sculptural furniture; and moody, warm-toned colors. She has a degree concentrated in the intersection of writing and architecture, which influences her passion for exploring creative solutions to unusual home layouts and stylish renter-friendly decor. She’s a self-proclaimed pro at finding the best antique furniture in the most unlikely of places (but her cat Blue can certainly back these claims).
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