Is Your Home "Home Fit"?

AARP research consistently finds that persons 50 years and older want to stay in their homes for as long as possible. To help homeowners determine if their home is well-suited to this goal, they created the "HomeFit" Guide. 

The guide takes through each room of your home to give you a sense of how livable it will be as you age, and offers worksheets to help you create a plan to ensure your home can meet your needs for years to come. The improvements and solutions offered range from do-it-yourself fixes to solutions that require skilled expertise.

To use the guide, simply click here to be taken to the page where you can download or print it. Below you will find links to to the worksheets referenced in the guide.

• Worksheet 1:Is My Home "HomeFit"?
• Worksheet 2: My Room-by-Room HomeFit List
• Worksheet 3: My Room-by-Room Shopping List
• Worksheet 4: My Room-by-Room Do-It-Myself List
• Worksheet 5: My Room-by-Room Don't Do-It-Myself List
• Worksheet 6: My Contractor Interview Notes
• Worksheet 7: My Contractor Reference Check Notes
• Worksheet 8: My Home Maintenance Schedule 
• Worksheet 9: My Emergency Contacts

Designing the Perfect Boomer Bath

The top home modifications needed in order for residents to age in place are in the bathroom. These range from grab bars and no thresholds in the shower, to different toilet heights, to door and sink handles, and can be included in the design of your bath such that your personal spa is functional without feeling institutional.

The shower is one of the top places in a home where a homeowner risks injury. Here are some design trends that can help eliminate these risks:

• Removing the threshold into the shower.
• Adding an elegant nonslip surface for the flooring.
• Installing a grab bar. If you don't want to add the grab bar right away, you can slo include blocking in the wall tile for the future. 
• Building in a bench (which not only can provide seating to the non-ambulatory bather, but also can be used as a shelf for ladies to prop up their leg when shaving).
• Including a hand-held showerhead (which is also helpful for cleaning the shower).

For the toilet, you should consider:

• Investing in a comfort-height toilet, which is a couple of inches taller than standard models. 
• Installing a grab bar or include blocking for future grab bars.
• Ensuring the door is at least 32 inches wide to accommodate walking aids.

Finally, when designing your vanity, consider:

• Installing sink handles that are easier to grasp than knobs.
• Building a sink that allows for a wheel chair to slide underneath.
• Adding a mirror that tilts to accommodate persons who are seated.