Q: I’ve lived in my 首页 for 20 years and I would 我喜欢一直住在这里. 不幸的是，我在附近没有家人 在我年老时帮助我. 有什么必要的家居装修我可以做吗 使现在安全老化到位?

A: 是的,有 are definitely renovations that will allow you to stay in your forever 首页. To help you to identify the most important changes you can make, here is a list of 10 重构 projects recommended by Ron and Jennifer VanderBeken, who are certified aging-in-place specialists with 总部位于斯诺霍米什县的VanderBeken改造.

1. 转换为开放式平面图

Converting your 首页’s layout to an open floor plan is a good first step for enhancing accessibility as you age in place. Fewer obstructions improve mobility for people with vision impairments or walking difficulties, or who use wheelchairs or walkers to get around.

Reducing the number of interior walls also allows light to travel throughout the 首页, increasing overall visibility and further protecting you from falls and other accidents.

2. 增加一个一楼的主套房

As people age, stairs can become a major impediment. First-level primary suites prevent you from having to walk up and down stairs to use the bathroom or settle in to sleep. Those living in multilevel 首页s can accommodate this change by either downsizing to a single-story 首页 or redesigning the first floor of their current residence.

3. 拓宽门道和走廊

Most residential doorways are not wide enough to comfortably accommodate wheelchairs, 助行器或其他助行设备. All hallways and doors in public 建筑s must be at least 32 inches to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility standard. However, residential doors and hallways don’t always meet this minimum, particularly in older 首页s. In these cases, doors and halls should be widened wherever possible.

4. 根据需要更换地板

Universal design advocates typically recommend 首页owners swap out certain types of flooring for materials that are soft, slip-resistant and well-suited to wheelchairs or walkers. The right type of flooring will differ based on the individual 首页owner’s needs.

Refinished hardwoods can resist the bumps and grinds of regular wheelchair traffic more effectively than other flooring options, 比如地毯.

While ceramic tiles may also work well for wheelchair users, they can get quite slippery. To avoid this issue, shop around for ADA-compliant, anti-slip tiles.

5. 更新智能家居技术

从安全摄像头到智能电灯开关, there are dozens of 首页 tech options available to support seniors aging in place — many of which are eligible for AARP discounts. 更新锁, 灯, window treatments and appliances with smart tech makes it easier to centrally (and safely) manage appliances, 能源使用和家庭安全.

6. 安装一个步入式淋浴

The majority of falls at 首页 occur in the bathroom, where floors can be slippery and support features are often limited. 正因为如此, many designers recommend eliminating tubs — which can be difficult to climb in and out of — and installing walk-in showers with benches, 取而代之的是踏板和抓杆. You might also consider mounting grab bars next to toilets.

7. 用对比色作画

Both color and depth perception decline with age, affecting as many as half of all American seniors. People who wear multifocal glasses or contacts are even likelier to struggle.

The good news is something as basic as painting a door frame a different color can help people with vision impairments cope. Color contrasts can help you determine where things should be located, 设计师建议粉刷装饰, 门口的楼梯, 柜台的边缘颜色对比鲜明.

8. 增加厨房的可达性

It’s essential to make kitchens more accessible as we age in place. Try grouping appliances together to avoid carrying heavy pots and pans from one end of the room to the other. Limit mounted fixtures that are difficult to reach.

Do not install cabinets over the stove because leaning over a hot surface can pose a hazard, 尤其是当平衡感受损的时候. 也, try swapping out lower cabinets with under-countertop drawers because they’re easier to pull out.

9. 尽可能消除阈值

房主 who are aging in place should eliminate thresholds wherever possible by leveling sunken living rooms, 单阶半层. Small sets of steps can be more dangerous than full staircases because they are not as obvious, clear or distinct to people with limited depth perception (see above). The right 重构 firm can help you fill in sunken spaces and level off any dangerous steps.

10. 为照顾者建造住房

Seniors who anticipate needing professional help or assistance from family members in the future might consider 建筑 an addition, an accessory dwelling unit or a backyard cottage to house them on their property. This can be pricier than most of the other improvements discussed here, but adding extra living space for a caregiver can save you time, 从长远来看，金钱和内心的平静. 这对护理人员来说也很方便.

惠特尼·哈什是项目开发人员 VanderBeken改造, a member of the 建筑大师协会 of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS). 如果你要装修房子, 重构 or residential 首页建筑 question you’d like answered by one of MBAKS’s more than 2,600个成员, 写信给 首页work@livingatepperson.com.