7 Tips for People Who want to stay in their homes after they retire

I have really thought about this and would like to share my thoughts.

Most people who are over 65 want to stay in their homes until they are very sick. It's a comforting environment. How do you prepare them? Here are some questions to ask:

1. Does the home have stairs? As people get older, their knees get weaker and it is harder to get up and down stairs.

2. Is the home wheel-chair accessable?

3. Do the bathrooms and showers/bathtubs have grab bars?

4. How is the kitchen going to function? Tall cabinets above the sink will be more difficult without a ladder.

5. Does the front door have steps? Will it need a ramp?

6. Are the floors slippery? Could they slip and fall?

7. Are doors and windows easy to open? People who have arthritis have trouble doing that.

I think AARP is a good resource to think about and lots of cities have elder care magazines that have tips for this. It's a start but I hope this interior decorators & designers not only think of home decor but the specific needs of the client.