Adapting your home to enhance your senior years

27 Nov 2024

When we all know that the only constant is change, it’s extraordinary to think that the design of our homes, in the main, assumes a mode of living that is frozen in time.

But, this need not be the case. Certainly, homes can — and need to — adapt to suit our evolving needs over time. And at no stage more so than in our senior years.

As a qualified interior designer with over 25-years’ experience and parents and in-laws in their senior years, I have witnessed first-hand the difficulties for my senior clientele and relatives of living in conditions that range from somewhat challenging to being unsafe.

The good news is, this is changeable, and, improvements made to your home for enhanced living will, by their design, also benefit young grandchildren requiring nurturing and safe environments, too. And the cost of renovation is often much cheaper than the cost of moving somewhere else and will enable you to remain in your home and in your community.

If you have ever baulked at the thought of renovating your home to provide enhanced living in your senior years because it all seems too hard or you’d rather not think that far ahead, I’m here to assure you that future-proofing your home is a wise investment, and that prevention is better than cure.

Over the years, I have renovated many properties for clients in the mid-50’s to mid-70’s age bracket. The earlier you can plan for your renovation the better. This avoids the situation I have seen often when the actual work of renovation is all too disruptive at a time in life when being settled is cherished. Worse, when an accident preceded the timing of the renovation, an unfortunate event that could have been avoided with improvements made earlier.

Or, perhaps the thought of renovating for enhanced living is daunting because you have preconceived notions of what ‘functionality’ in your home may look (e.g., grab rails, ramps, unappealing tapware). Enhanced living need not be a ‘bolt-on’ look.  Manufacturers are listening, particularly with tapware and accessories. We now have more options than ever before.

Common needs among the senior community range from wider, flatter passageways, slip-free floors, bathroom grab rails and accessories, sturdy supports, higher kitchen and bathroom benches, reduced or easier or automated operable household features, and quality, task-specific lighting to name only a few. Well designed, all these features can be integrated into the overall home without their intention being overtly apparent. This ensures the functionality improvements of your renovation also enhance the look and feel — and value of your home.

If you are constantly thinking about renovating, or changing your mind about renovating constantly, that’s entirely understandable and natural! An interior designer is an agent of change, if nothing else. A competent, experienced interior designer will ensure your evolving needs are understood and met. The sooner you can invest in this design process, the more confident you can be that your renovation will enable you to continue to safely enjoy your home and your place.

Sally Feeney Interior Design is an interior architecture and design practice with expertise in residential interiors.

For more information on Sally Feeney, please visit www.sallyfeeney.com.