Home Elevators and Aging-in-Place
Age-in-Place:
The ability to live in one’s own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level.
The growing trend to age-in-place is driven by Baby Boomers, who clearly want to remain in their own homes as opposed to selling, buying, and moving elsewhere. Although 77% of people aged 55 and older want to age in place, only 50% think they’ll be able to.
People value their independence. They want to age independently and stay within the
comfort of their own home, but most houses haven’t been designed for aging adults or
people with disabilities.
When planning for current or future needs, there are many factors to consider which can facilitate aging in place when designing new houses or remodeling existing homes. For example, open floor plans, wider doorways, grab bars, as well as bathroom and kitchen designs to accommodate disabled or aging people.
A critical component for aging in place is accessibility. If someone has mobility challenges, climbing stairs to access all areas of their home will be most challenging and lead to them having to leave the home they love.
There are numerous solutions for those who have current mobility needs as well as those who want to future-proof their current home. Elevators and wheelchair lifts as well as outdoor elevators and lifts can be incorporated into the designs for new homes or retrofitted into existing home remodels.