A recent survey conducted by AARP, reports a record number of older adults residing in the U.S. want to maintain an independent lifestyle as long as they can.
The study suggests independent living isn’t defined the same for everyone. For some they said, it means staying in their current home and making certain accessibility modifications as needed. Other participants reported a broader definition to include relocation to communities that enable aging in place transitions. The survey also reflected a clear portion of the group considering multigenerational housing scenarios.
The common element in each definition is a graceful, gradual, and conscious transition that supports independence in any living situation.
For many, starting to or already thinking about aging in place scenarios, a custom home can provide a creative, economical, and practical alternative to sustain independent living without compromise.
Schumacher Homes is an expert in Accessible Home Design. As one of the few custom home builders to obtain the Certified Aging in Place Specialists (CAPS), our main objective is to design a home that adapts to you and your family’s changing needs instead of you and your family adapting to your home.
Here are some of the current ideas and innovations in custom home design, focused on aging in place scenarios.
Make An Easy Entrance
Many of the most helpful ways to age-proof a home are also the most subtle and unobtrusive. It only makes sense to start at your front door. Consider a no-step entryway preceded by a flat landing with a wider doorway and an overhang for cover from the weather. All of this adds up to a safe and accessible introduction to your home for both residents and guests, and wider doorways can benefit more than just your main entrance. Many of Schumacher’s most popular floor plans include extra-wide doors and hallways in their design or are available as part of customizations.
One Story Living
The biggest decision to make in any custom home design is one story or two. There are several pros and cons to weigh and an even more robust list of factors to consider from the economic to the aesthetic.
However, when it comes to aging in place and accessibility, a one story home has many advantages over a two story layout. By containing your home to a single floor, you aid the ease of maintenance and help avoid future mobility challenges – not to mention making daily tasks like laundry less difficult!
One of the questions our New Home Consultants get asked regularly is if a one story home sacrifices privacy? The answer is no. Many of Schumacher’s one story ranch style plans contain private owner’s suites built into the design and further customizations in the floor plan can reconfigure or expand the space between the owner’s retreat and other bedrooms.
Kitchens
An open floor plan has an accessible kitchen at its core. And an accessible kitchen makes life easier for everyone. Whether you’re hosting a night in or making a quiet meal for two, a kitchen where everything’s within reach will bring long-term value to any home.
Our design experts will work with you to enhance every detail to ensure countertops and cabinets are at an ideal height and the flow of the space puts cooks (and helpers) in the center of it all, like a cooking command center. Many of the design elements that make kitchens flexible and functional are also aesthetically pleasing and great for entertaining. With lower countertops, sight lines to a great room or other adjacent spaces are uninterrupted.
Flooring
Choice of floor surface is yet another subtle but impactful decision for aging in place. In general, the more durable and slip-resistant the better. Hard surface flooring like wood, vinyl, or tile check all the boxes; luxury vinyl plank is trending and becoming increasingly popular for its slip-resistant attributes and its ability to stand up to water and the wear and tear of daily foot traffic.
Looking to mix different flooring options? We can help you pick which hard or soft surfaces make the most sense for each room while managing smooth transitions in between to reduce tripping hazards.
Why A Custom Home Is A Forever Home
Accessible Home Design for aging in place requires some planning. When done right, it’s intrinsic, invisible, and it can deliver an impact in every room. We see many customers, especially empty nesters or couples just looking to downsize, that choose to build a custom home as the backdrop to their next chapter. At Schumacher, we can work with you to ensure a custom home experience that fits within your budget and stays in step with you even as your lifestyle changes, gracefully and gradually.
We want your next home to be your forever home. Your independence is our priority.
Schumacher Homes, based in Canton, Ohio, is America’s largest custom homebuilder, with operations in 30 markets in 12 states across the country. The National Housing Quality award winning company has built over 20,000 homes, customized to fit each family’s lifestyle, since its founding by Paul Schumacher in 1992. Schumacher Homes takes each customer’s inspiration and gives it a home. Each Schumacher Homes location includes a one-stop shopping design studio and model homes displaying the latest in architectural and product trends. Stop in today, be inspired and receive your no obligation price quote.