Planning For Retirement? Home Remodeling Steps You May Want To Consider


When you are planning to retire in the not too distant future, there are many different factors that you may be considering in the preparation process. However, one that you may not yet have considered is the fact that with retirement comes aging, and as you age, you may need more accommodations to be happy, safe, and comfortable inside your house. Before you retire and have major changes in your monthly income, get to know some of the changes you may want to make in your home to get it ready for your many years of retirement. That way, you have all of your major home improvement projects finished while you still have your full income to rely on.

Install a Walk-In Tub

As you and your spouse age, one of the tasks around your house that may become difficult will be climbing in and out of the bathtub. This is because, as your bodies continue to age, your muscle control and overall flexibility will decline and the act of stepping up to get into the bathtub or to get out of it will become more challenging. Your risk of falling will also increase.

A walk-in bathtub is an ideal solution to this problem. These bathtubs are designed to accommodate those people who have mobility issues or who are older. Rather than have to step over the lip of the bathtub, you will instead be able to open a door in the side of your tub to walk right in. Walk-in tubs feature railings and non-slip floors as well as an elevated seat for easy use.

When you are planning to install a walk-in tub, keep in mind that they are quite large. This means you may have to do some additional remodeling in your bathroom aside from just replacing your bathtub.

Widen Doorways

Another home design element that many people do not think about until it becomes an issue is the width of the doors and doorways throughout their house. As previously mentioned, mobility becomes a serious issue as people get older, and the troubles are not just limited to getting in and out of the bathtub.

When an older person's ability to safely walk on their own becomes questionable or they experience a fall or injury, they may need a cane, walker, or even a wheelchair for a short or long period of time. This means that for the person to move around the house, they will need more space.

Most standard doorways in homes, either exterior doors or interior doors to rooms throughout the house, are not built to accommodate people with walkers, canes, or wheelchairs. As such, you may want to consider widening the main doorways in your home like the the front door as well as the doors to your bedroom, the bathroom, and the kitchen. That way, if you or your spouse ever requires such walking aids, your home will be easy to maneuver.

Now that you know a few of the home remodeling steps that you may want to consider before you retire, you can be sure that you get everything necessary done before your monthly income decreases with retirement.