Modern Bathroom Updates For Seniors

The idea behind age in place remodeling is to help baby boomers who want to retire in their own home as, to do so safely, independently, and comfortably regardless of their income or ability level. Besides living on your own home is a lot cheaper. Seniors seem to be happy and enjoy some perks of being close to their loved ones, where they can get on with a life that is familiar to them as opposed to a nursing home or aged-care facility. There are, however, many potential risks for injury to seniors as they age lurking around their homes and making a few but vital modifications can significantly minimize such risks.

Types Of Age In Place Modifications

Examples of simple, cost-effective age in place modifications that an aging in place contractor can make include but are not limited to mounting additional railings and grab bars, installing nonskid flooring, turning a regular tub into a walk-in bathtub, installing a hand-held flexible shower head, increasing lighting, installing accessible switches at both ends of the stairs to boost visibility, and minimize the risks of falls. Falls happen to be the leading cause of distressing death with seniors.

Bathroom Updates For Seniors

The bathroom is one area that can greatly benefit from aging in place remodeling because lack of support in the shower or bathroom certainly increases the risks of accidental fall. The bathroom is a constantly wet area and one of the best ways to improve this situation is to install a shower without a threshold so that somebody in a wheelchair or walking aid can move in and out freely even without help.

Choosing a flooring material for the entire bathroom floor is equally important. It entails picking a material that is slip resistant, one with an anti-slippery coating that doesn’t move out of place, one that is easy to move over with a cane, walker, or wheelchair without slipping, it should also be one that doesn’t require too much cleaning and maintenance. Bathroom flooring materials such as stone, ceramic or porcelain should be avoided because not only are they hard and unyielding, they also require regular maintenance, they are cold to the feet, and above all, tiles with wide grout joints or uneven surfaces can be a trip hazard for seniors.

Changes To Your Lighting

Bathroom lighting for age in place remodeling is very important because too much lighting or lack thereof poses a risk of tripping. Puck lights are modern and versatile lighting solutions that an aging in place contractor can install inside cabinets or as under cabinet task lighting. Light fixtures with a built-in occupancy sensor are ideal for aging in place bathrooms and if possible for the entire home. Important also is to choose faucets that are easy to open with little effort as well as adding non-slip railing along the walls for additional support and bring all cabinets to a comfortable height that a senior can reach upwards, but not too low as you don’t want seniors to have to bend over too much.

Learn more about licensed and insured general contractor Glen Miller the Home Doctor and the variety of home improvement services he offers clients including: home maintenance plans, handyman services, kitchen remodels, bathroom renovations, handicap ramp installations, age in place modifications, basements transformations, and hardwood flooring installation and refinishing at www.glenmillerthehomedoctor.com. To contact Glen Miller the Home Doctor call 734.255.9793 for a free estimate.

January 25, 2018

Local Trends in Bathroom Renovations For 2018

Now that it is a new year it is time to get started on those bathroom renovations you have been considering. Start by hiring a remodeling contractor, as they’ll be able to assist you through every step of the process. Otherwise, your bathroom renovations will likely remain a fantasy.

There are many different looks and styles for bathrooms. If you examine some of the local trends in bathroom renovations for 2018, it will help to narrow down your options.

Freestanding Bathtubs

This was a common feature of Victorian homes, but is making a comeback. Don’t expect tacky or cumbersome stylings, the new freestanding bathtubs are both modern and compact for the 2018 bathroom. A wide range of faucets can be installed too. Choices go beyond your standard chrome and stainless steel to rose gold and dark brass. Homeowners with free standing tubs in their bathroom designs are considering the addition of a rain shower head so they can still take a shower in the immense bathtub.

Granite or Quartz Countertops

Many people choose to match bathroom countertop with kitchen countertop. It doesn’t have to be the exact same color; you can opt for a similar veined pattern for a cohesive look. These types of countertops are considered permanent and are the perfect choice for a bathroom that can suffer moisture or water damage. Now you’ll never have to worry again. Bathroom countertops can also wrapped behind the toilet, giving you more space for cosmetics or decorative objects.

LED Mirrored Lights

Not only are LED lamps low in energy consumption, but they can be extremely bright so you can put on your makeup or do your hair easily. If you’re worried they’re too bright, consider adding a dimmer switch in your bathroom. In the morning you can have a minimum of light while you wake up, then when it’s time to carefully apply your makeup you can increase the lighting levels.

Vessel or Bowl Sinks

Bathroom sinks no longer have to be boring white porcelain or ceramic models. The new style of vessel or bowl sinks not only gives your bathroom a touch of style, but also functionality too. The sinks can be as small or as large as you like. Its original function is realized for people who like to put the stopper in and splash around to wash. A wide variety of faucets can be added too. These need not be boring either. Faucets come in every color of the rainbow, and can be one or two handled.

Hardwood or Wood Laminate Flooring

In the past, wood or laminate floors were frowned upon, as the moisture and water from the tub could quickly erode away at surfaces. Today’s engineered flooring panels have protective layers that are suitable for the bathroom. They come in every color of wood you can imagine.

There are many local trends in bathroom renovations for 2018. Your remodeling contractor will be able to assist you with the above choices and more. Soon you’ll have a beautiful but highly functional bathroom that you can enjoy several times a day!

December 14, 2017

Custom Handicap and Age in Place Remodeling Solutions

The benefits of age in place remodeling are insurmountable. There are countless remodeling solutions that enable those who want to retire and live in their own homes with freedom, dignity, and pride. Age in place remodeling solutions are designed using handicap construction techniques in mind. This helps to remove unnecessary hazardous clutter and to allow easy mobility especially when a wheelchair or walker accessibility is required.

Bathroom and Kitchen Accessibility

The most important rooms for any age in place remodeling and handicap construction are the bathroom and the kitchen. The idea is to use principles of universal design. This is essentially all about making a space useful to people with diverse abilities with appropriate size and space provided for approach, adequate reach and use regardless of individual body size, posture, or mobility.

For example, an outdoor ramp, often referred to as a handicap ramp, with a comfortable incline integrated into the exterior of a home is one essential age in place remodeling solution that will allow easy and safe accessibility for a person in a wheelchair, a cane or a walker. One full bathroom, kitchen, and common room areas should be located on the main level of the home. Planning ahead to accommodate assistive devices is a good idea in order to make it easy for someone in a wheelchair to make their way around the toilet, bathtub, or shower, as well as easy-to-reach cabinets and drawers.

Options For Age In Place Remodels

Two of the most common options for achieving the comfort and safety of an age in place commode is to install a seat extender or replace the old toilet with one that is the proper and recommended height. The toilet paper holder should also be designed for one-handed changing and must be in a position where it is not only easy to reach from a sitting position but is also sturdy enough to hold an individual’s weight.

Textured grab bars along the bathroom, around tubs, hallways, bedroom, and in areas where assisted seating and standing are required can make all the difference they also must be strong enough to support about 300 plus pounds.

When it comes to the age in place kitchen solutions, having the height of the dishwasher raised can reduce the strain of loading and unloading. Motorized, adjustable height counters, pullout or pull-down cabinets, roller sinks makes the whole kitchen more accessible by someone who is wheelchair bound or handicap. Bookcases on hallways, wiring on the floor, floor rugs are examples of things that pose various trip hazards and must be removed in both a handicap and aged in place remodeling solutions.

Here are additional age in place remodeling solutions:

Widen doorway and halls to a width of between twenty five and twenty seven inches wide to accommodate various assistive devices.
Install consistent lighting that is easy to locate. Use shades to prevent unnecessary glare.
Eliminate transitions between flooring materials of various heights. Remove scatter rugs from all locations within the home.

November 7, 2017

Benefits of Age in Place Remodeling

Age in place remodeling is something everyone should consider. The term has many misconceptions about growing old. However, a good age in place contractor will help to create a space that you will always feel comfortable in. Rather than a home looking old, it continues to show your personality and offers the style you desire.

Here’s a look at the four benefits of age in place remodeling:

Your Home Becomes Your Forever Home

It’s common to look at a home as a stop-gap for the time being. Eventually you want to upsize to grow your family or you want something different in terms of living space, kitchen, or bathroom. You may even need to look at installing handicap ramps into your home.

Age in place remodeling makes it so your home is your forever home. It is designed for all your needs now and into the future. A good age in place contractor will help you consider the possibilities in the future of needing ramps and support while considering your current needs, ensuring that your space will always offer exactly what you need.

You Are Ready If Something Happens

You just don’t know exactly what the future holds. While you may feel in full physical health now, an accident can happen tomorrow or you may have an underlying health problem with no symptoms. This time next year, you may find you need to completely remodel your home just to be able to live comfortably.

Thinking about age in place remodeling will give you the chance to plan ahead. You look at the chances of an accident and look at the parts of your home that could become inaccessible. If something does happen, you can quickly add in the new needed items, rather than wait weeks to get a contractor in and then months for the total remodel to take place. You have peace of mind and security.

Make Your Home Comfortable

Harsh lighting can cause headaches, while a cluttered kitchen can make it difficult to work around. When you opt for age in place remodeling, you have the ability to create a comfortable home. Each room will have the specific purpose you need and you can choose lighting specifically to soften and create relaxing areas.

The bathroom gets the tub and suite that you’ve always dreamed of having, while the hallways can be lined with the right shelving to make storage easier. Getting rid of the clutter and creating a space you’re happy with will make you happier when you are at home.

Your Home Requires Less Maintenance

While you may enjoy a little gardening, you don’t necessarily want the whole garden and lawn to be covered in grass. An age in place contractor will look at the garden and help create one that requires less maintenance. You don’t have to worry about watering or mowing the lawn every week or so. There’s no need to worry about that will do it when you’re physically unable to.

That doesn’t mean all your flower beds will be removed. The contracts will consider ways to make it easier to get to your plants. You may have raised flower beds installed or handicap ramps around your lawn to make sure you can still get across the grass to your plants should something happen.

Consider age in place remodeling for your home. Thinking about it now will help you have peace of mind for the future so you can get your forever home.

October 16, 2017

New Looks for an Old Home

There are many ways which can be used in order to improve the old looks of homes. With the help of remodeling and home renovations any type of home can get a new look. Many things are located inside a home. These can be changed to get a new look. Placement of things in a home can be changed in order to have a new look. Repairs in homes can be done to remove the defects and get new feelings.

If you have a home with paint on walls then you can use tiles on walls in order to have new looks.
There are many types of tiles in the market which can be used for homes.
You can have tiles of different colors for different rooms.
There are special tiles which are made for bathrooms and different tiles are to be used for other rooms.
You can have curtains in your home with new styles.

Many types of curtains are available in the market which can be installed in homes for getting new looks. You can have curtains of different designs in different rooms to have unique looks. Furniture is another main thing which can be used for changing styles and looks of homes. You can change furniture in your home or change the arrangement of furniture in your rooms.

This will give a new feeling in your home and your decoration will be changed. Many people are using remodeling and home renovations in order to get new feelings from time to time. You can change the covers of your beds and seats to have a new look. You can buy some new things to be used in your home and sell out some old things. You can make a budget to make sure that you are spending in limits while remodeling.

Many people like to introduce some changes after some time in their homes to have new feelings.
It is good to use some changes in old homes or getting new looks.
Homes have many things which can be changed after some time in order to have new looks.
If you are willing to have some new feeling and decoration then you can change the arrangement of things in your home.

This will require some efforts on your part but you are not needed to invest money in this process. You are just needed to change the location of things in your home and you are done. You can change the location of tables and chairs from one room to another and change the location of your bed and cupboard in rooms to have a new look. These and many other options are available in changing the styles and looks of things in homes. If you want to introduce some new things then you have to invest some money.

You can but new chairs and tables for your home and install them in required rooms to have new feelings and looks. With some remodeling and home renovations you are able to change the looks and feels of your home and have good results in a short time period.