Are you thinking about making some home modifications for the elderly folks in your life to have an enjoyable life at home? Well, home modifications as we grow and age are inevitable because the only other option is to move out of your home to a ‘more tailored accommodation. In my past life I worked as a healthcare worker and provided assistance to the elderly in both the home setting and residential setting and one theme was common – the spaces were modified to meet the needs of the occupants.
As old age starts to creep on for our parents, it’s time to start thinking about home modifications for the elderly. Whilst I wouldn’t yet put my parents into the ‘elderly’ category as they are ‘young parents’, I am starting to notice some changes in them from struggling to manage the stairs to struggling with long distance walking. This is obviously expected as they are growing older but I also know there are certain things we can do to aid them and not make moving around the house uncomfortable.
*This is a collaborative post, all opinions are my own.
Home Modifications for the Elderly {the cost}
As a homeowner, I know how quickly the costs can add up when it comes to home renovations especially when it comes to modifications or alternations that are not simply a DIY job for the regular Joe. But, like with everything, there are so many things you can do to reduce the cost go the modifications/alterations that you need to make to your home or your elderly folk’s home.
In a previous post, I shared tips on simple ways you can adapt in your home to make the house more elderly friendly. In this post, I am going to focus on the cost that might be associated with the various home modifications that might be required and I will focus on the most common modifications that are often recommended.
Lift installation
One of the most recommended home modifications is the installing of a stairlift in one’s home to aid the elderly to move up and down the terraced house with ease but how much are stairlifts? I certainly didn’t know. But, like any financially savvy person, I did what I do best and went on the hunt to look at the cost of installing a stairlift in one’s home. The majority of retailers start from upwards of a £1000 which is quite affordable but it can also depend on your circumstances. The stairlift doesn’t need to be brand you, there are second hand versions which are even more affordable.
Wider doorways
I had never put much thought into how much it would cost to widen a space until we bought a machine that was too big for its space. From that we got to learn more about how much widening a space including the doorway could cost and we found that depending on the work required, the can start from ~£500. Again, all seems fairly inexpensive but as I said, we need to consider your personal circumstances as well as the actual work that might need to be done.
Lower countertops
Similarly to the experience of widening the doorways, lowering the countertops can either be costly or very affordable if you plan to repurpose majority of the current unit. I know from personal experience that kitchen renovations can cost upward of £10,000 but often depends on what type of renovations you are doing and if you will be repurposing anything from the old kitchen.
Making home modifications for the elderly is one of the best ways to look after them especially when they will to stay in the home where they raised their families. We call our parents home our home base and I know my parents would prefer to continue living there for as long as it’s possible for them. Have you thought about what type of modifications you will need to make to your parent’s home when the time comes including the costs?
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