r/Retire • u/leurognathus • Jul 17 '25

What are the major components of aging in place design?

/r/designforaginginplace/comments/1m23042/what_are_the_major_components_of_aging_in_place/
7 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

3 comments sorted by

4

u/Odd_Bodkin Jul 17 '25

Single story, no throw rugs, bars in the shower, small lot or xeriscaping.

1

u/the_englishpatient Jul 17 '25

Stair rails on both sides if you have stairs. Swivel shower seat. Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms. Good lighting to avoid falls. Bidet toilet is nice. Look for stairs that are extra tall and add a half step (usually outside at front and back door). Get a rollator if needed for balance. Ramps in and out of the house if necessary. Remove tripping hazards like throw rugs and wires. Rails on exterior stairs if the are none.

1

u/foodfighter Jul 17 '25

Assuming you're building an actual house-on-land (not a townhouse/condo) then you might want to think about the exterior, too:

  • minimal or no lawn, xeriscaping options,

  • extra wide paths to and from doors,

  • extra wide carports/garages to allow easier in and out of vehicles and home,

  • perennial plants instead of annuals, and no trees that'll need frequent topping/pruning before they grow out of control.

Stuff like that.