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We talk a lot about downsizing, upsizing, and “right-sizing.” But I think the more useful question is: How well will your home support you 10–15 years down the road—and what are you willing to pay for that flexibility?
I’m planning a retirement build and I’m intentionally designing for aging in place—wide doors and hallways, single-floor living, an easy/step-free entrance, and a walk-in shower with a minimal curb (plus the usual goal: fewer maintenance headaches). The catch is that many of these features add cost up front, even if they reduce risk, hassle, and remodeling later.
A few questions to spark discussion:
If you’ve already downsized, built, remodeled, or helped someone transition later in life—what would you do the same, and what would you do differently?
When we were looking for a retirement home our realtor used to joke that I was convinced one of us would eventually be wheelchair bound. Instead we decided to build our retirement house. As retired Physical Therapists we really wanted to build a ranch but the neighborhood we chose did not have lots with enough acreage to build one, plus the cost of a ranch vs a colonial was much higher. When walking though the shell of another house in the neighborhood I realized that what was designated as a dining room could be my office (I was working from home at the time), and then in the future if necessary, converted into a bedroom. We installed double doors to the entrance of the study into the hallway and across the way is a 1/2 bath/laundry which with a stackable laundry could be modified with a walk in shower. The entire downstairs is open concept for which would allow for wheelchair usage, and as noted below we have a two car garage in which a ramp into the house could be installed. If our mobility were to decline but not to the point of utilizing a wheelchair we have the stair climbing chair in the basement from when my mother in law was living with us which could be installed.
All that being said in the nine years since we built the house we have decided when we turn 70 we will get on a waiting list for the CCRC my wife worked in before she retired. When an opening occurs we will consider moving.
We purchased a previously owned manufactured home in a resort community in 2023. It includes two bedrooms, two baths, office and a large entertainment room. (The office could be used as a sleeping room).
1. Everything is on one level, including the laundry.
2. The baths have seating in the showers and handholds (one has a shower and a soaking tub).
3. Rooms have wide, French doors. That includes the office and main bathroom which is sufficiently large to allow easy navigation with a wheelchair, were one required. The door swing inward and may be left open and not obstruct walking areas.
4. The kitchen and dining are adjacent to the main living area.
5. The kitchen is a galley style. It is wide and permits easy maneuvering.
6. Electrical switches are at easy height. Those in the kitchen are reachable if one were seated at a counter. The stone counters are 25 inches deep allowing reach to the entire surface. Material is easy cleaning.
7. Main living, dining, kitchen and bathroom have contiguous tile floor throughout. There are no narrow entries connecting them. No thresh-holds. We added several throw-rugs to the dining and living area.
8. The bedrooms are carpeted, but the floors are constructed in such a manner that there are no thresholds. The bedroom and office carpeting is on the same height as the adjacent tile areas to the bath and to the main living areas. The carpets are such that wheels roll easily in and out.
9. Closets have large rolling doors allowing full access to the entire interior.
10. The main entrance has a 3-inch step-up. A ramp could alleviate this.
11. The entertainment room has a door to a large patio area. The patio is at the same level as the entertainment room. There is a 1-inch threshold to prevent rain from flowing into the room.
We are in a mild climate with a large covered car-port. A resort pool is next door. The community includes a full-service restaurant. Golf carts make travel within the community easy.
Keep those down arrows coming!
Obviously, some think the house described isn’t suitable for the elderly.
I don’t know why you’d get down arrows for this house. Seems fine to me. I’m not sure what else would be required.
These are great questions that people should consider BEFORE something happens. Thanks for posting.
Since I am 81, I am already there. We had experience with this with my wife’s cancer illness last year. Our house is a ranch. We have a ramp off the back deck which she used for years. When she was confined to a wheelchair, it would not fit in either bathroom. Fortunately, she was well enough to navigate the few feet from the door to the toilet.
We do not have grab bars in either shower. Otherwise, a wheelchair can navigate through the house. My son is a remodeler. I have asked him to draw plans to enlarge both bathrooms and create a master suite. That would enable me to stay here if I decide to do so.
The other major issue is we have a 2 acre, heavily wooded lot with a 350′ gravel driveway. The driveway requires periodic maintenance which I have always done. We have lots and lots of leaves in the Fall. I usually use my heavy backpack blower to blow most leaves into the woods, but I always have some leaves that I have to bag. This year, I used a service that sucked those leaves up at a very reasonable cost of $240. In the past, I would trigger my asthma and allergy bagging those leaves. I cannot believe I did not do that sooner. As you can probably discern, I lean heavily towards DIY for home and property maintenance, but those days are numbered.
I am able to maintain everything in the house and usually call on my son for electrical or plumbing issues (I hate plumbing!).
Priorities for new home would be low or no maintenance, wheelchair accessible, wider doors, grab bars, single level, modern kitchen, etc.
We retired early (50s) and our three homes during the next 20 years all had elements we sought of “universal design,” such as single level, wide doorways, walk-in showers, open floor plans.
It turned out that we remained nimble – the real beneficiaries were our elderly parents & siblings (we are both the youngest in our families), and my nephew who has has lived in a motorized wheelchair following an accident at age 20. For him, we installed a ramp from the garage into one house which had about 5 steps up from ground level.
Of course, the physical plant is one thing, but a big element of aging in place is how to maintain necessary services. By our mid-70s, we researched CCRCs and found one we’ve loved ever since we moved in three years ago. Maintenance, housekeeping, menu planning, cooking, etc are very well managed. Extras such as a library, salon for haircuts and a fitness center with an array of classes are 5 minutes away.
The beauty of a well-run CCRC isn’t just that someone will come to our home to fix something – it’s that pre-screening is done by someone else, their faces are familiar, we know their names, they’ve likely worked here for years, and they fix problems quickly.
For me, the best part of our CCRC has been the opportunity for friendship and volunteerism. We all read the articles that stress the importance of social contacts, and this setting is like a congenial village.
I short-circuited this whole discussion by moving from a two story house to a CCRC. One point I would stress: if there are two of you, whatever you decide needs to work for a surviving, potentially non-driving, spouse as well. Living alone with no relatives nearby was a key consideration for me.
I am very happy with my choice. As Dick mentions, NO maintenance, also not much cooking (my choice, I have a full kitchen), on-site medical care, physical therapy and exercise facilities, new friends, and a host of activities.
A friend of mine has been aging in place. She has a one story house walking distance from a grocery store, pharmacy and restaurant. She has gone through two joint replacements while living there, and has a line-up of people to call for maintenance and other assistance. None-the-less, she has been top of the wait list at a local Independent Living facility for some years, and is moving this week because of mobility issues. Have a back up plan.
If you’ve already downsized, built, remodeled, or helped someone transition later in life—what would you do the same, and what would you do differently?
We’ve been in our downsized home for two years. The shower in the primary bathroom has a beautiful tile shower. It’s a pain to clean. I’d consider some sort of premium solid surface material if I could get a do-over.
It is a detached house giving us the privacy we desire. The HOA does the grass and snow. All but one room is on the main floor, with the exception being my vinyl resting place (the room that houses my records and audio gear). If the steps become problematic, I will install a chair lift.
The attached garage is 30 feet deep, which enabled me to install an adequate work space in front of the cars.
I think we are good here for another 10 or 15 years. I hope that’s not God I hear laughing at my plans.
We went through the process 5 years ago (I was 64, wife 60). We had decided to move to be closer to our kids and grandkids. We were moving my wife’s special needs brother with us (he has since passed). We had seen both our parents struggle with multi-story living, old bathroom designs and trying to maintain a single family home as they aged.
What did we do?
First, Condo over single family home. No snow removal, lawn maintenance, roof repair. 2 bedrooms 2 1/2 baths upstairs
Second, one story, but with a full basement. We can live upstairs if our condition changes
Third, We did not find units that were updated with open floor plans, new appliances, or safe bathrooms(handrails, curbless showers). We realized we would have a major remodel of what we bought. We also did the remodel in two elements…open concept, kitchen/finish basement and then we moved in. Then, bathrooms two years later.
We look to be here for 20 years… Man plans and God laughs.
We are done as of a year ago.
Single Story Home trumps everything else. Plan that first.
We lived in a three story home for nearly 45 years. It was built in 1929. The laundry room was in the basement. In 2018 we finally moved to a 2,000 sq ft condo in a 55+ community. We have two bedrooms and two full bathrooms, three walkin closets, a living room, dining room and large open kitchen and family room with fireplace where we spend most of our awake time.
It was a great move I wish we had done at 65 rather than 75. No stairs, indoor parking, large private storage areas for each unit and no maintenance, 8×20 foot covered balcony with storage closet and an array of amenities including a large pool and located only 7/10 of a mile from our old house. I can hike up to a nature reservation and when I get there look out a the NYC skyline from one end to the other.
The community is on sixteen acres, the site of an old county jail built to house criminals in the Civil War era.
I like no maintenance the best and needless to say it’s all built with seniors in mind. Our mailboxes are in a mailroom in each building. Only 12 condos in each building and only three stories high.
It even appears a good investment. We paid $580,000 in 2018. Today we get calls weekly from agents asking if we want to sell or if we know of anyone who does. In recent years when one is sold, it is in the $900,000 range and sells in a few days.
We moved 11 years ago to what we hope will be our last house. Smaller lot, primary bedroom on first floor with shower. Laundry room first floor. 2 car garage so we could put a ramp into the house if needed (we can tell a previous owner had done this). This house worked out very well when I was undergoing my cancer treatments shortly after we moved in. Chris
My husband and I have lived in the same house since 1977. We are both 83, so have some experience with aging in place. Here are my criteria:
Right now, I know at least six households successfully aging in place on my block. I don’t know if all or most if us will ultimately need institutional care. But, for the moment, we’re good — and our houses, which are all more than 100 years old— are working out well.
We downsized to a CanDoMinimum 😄
Now, at 71 and only in fair health, I have to wonder if we should have directly moved to a CCRC.
We got lucky in 2021. We found a spec house to our liking – 3 level townhouse. It came with a shaft, but no elevator. Found a local home elevator contractor who did the installation for $40K. We are set for the next 10 years or so.
That’s exactly what we have planned for when I can no longer make the stairs, hopefully not for another 15 years but you never know. We’ve had the contractor out already and we know where the elevator will go — into a corner of the dining room and up through the floor to the third bedroom. We figure $40K (we’ve been given that price too) is a wonderful alternative to moving out to someplace else. Other than a few bathroom handrails, the house is AIP-ready.
Jeff I was nearly done writing an article with roughly the same premise, but from the perspective of my wife and me looking ahead. I’ll save it for another day though. Now I have to go back to the drawing board 😂
I’m so sorry Mark…
Don’t be silly, no need to be sorry! I’ll put it in my article vault and dust it off another time lol