Last year I took a spill in my shower. I slipped as I was getting out, grabbed for the soap dish and pulled it right out of the wall. I tumbled over the side of the bathtub onto the floor, bringing the entire shower curtain and shower rod with me, and gave myself a huge bruise in the process. A purple splotch as big as a basketball emerged along my side, from armpit to waist, and several weeks later there was still a brownish shadow all along my side.
That’s when my wife and I decided to renovate our bathroom, complete with the installation of a grab bar in the shower, and we put a grab bar in the other bathroom as well. I haven’t really needed to use them ever since. But now and then, when my eyes are closed and the soapy water is running down across my closed eyes, I reach over and touch the bar, feeling more secure just knowing it’s there.
Whether we relocate to another region of the country after we retire or decide to age-in-place at the family homestead, most of us have a deep emotional connection to our home. We also have a strong financial interest in our home, and so we are prepared to spend some money to improve our house in terms of convenience, appearance and safety. According to a survey by the financial firm Merrill Lynch, people over age 55 account for nearly half of all spending on home renovations in the United States — about $90 billion annually. Furthermore, while younger households slowed their home improvement spending over the past decade, spending by those over age 65 increased by a substantial 26 percent.
Here are five areas where retirees are looking to improve their homes:
1. A home office. The favorite home renovation is not grab bars or any other safety equipment, but the addition of a home office. Some 35 percent of those surveyed reported converting a bedroom or other space in their house into a home office. Perhaps when people are no longer going to a place of business they feel the need to carve out a place in the home for their paperwork and financial matters. Or perhaps it’s because an empty space begs to be filled. The kids are grown up and gone, so something has to be done with that empty bedroom, and converting it to a home office is a practical, low-cost project.
2. Outdoor features. The next most popular renovation is improving the curb appeal of the home, perhaps including freshening up the landscaping, applying a new coat of paint, installing a fence, replacing gutters, repaving the driveway or adding shutters or a new front door. Some of these measures are necessary, while others are cosmetic, but they all support a person’s pride of ownership.
3. Kitchen and bathroom upgrades. Upgrading the kitchen and bathrooms are next on the list. Popular fixtures in the bathroom are glass shower doors, new cabinets, and upgraded mirrors and lighting. Common improvements for the kitchen include stainless steel appliances, new counter tops, tile or wood floors, new windows and skylights.
4. Tech solutions. Seniors are also interested in outfitting their homes with modern technology to make their homes more convenient, connected, secure and healthful. These items include air purifiers and humidifiers to improve air quality, smart thermostats and apps to control appliances, smart phones, devices to communicate with loved ones, garbage disposals, compactors and even cleaning robots to help maintain the home.
5. Age safely. Many retirees are getting over their reluctance to admit they need some degree of age-proofing in their homes. That might mean mounting grab bars in the bathrooms, installing brighter lighting for better visibility or outfitting the kitchen with easy-to-use kitchen utensils. Science writer Rachel Adelson, author of “Staying Power: Age-Proof Your Home for Comfort, Safety and Style,” has two more recommendations you might not think of right away: Get rid of the scatter rugs around the house and install a wood floor or wall-to-wall carpeting. Scatter rugs may be charming, but they pose a hazard for older people who can trip over them. Her other safety tip: Affix traction tape along the front edge of your steps in contrasting colors to make them more visible and help prevent falls on the stairs.
Tom Sightings blogs at Sightings at 60.
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5 Popular Home Renovations for Retirees originally appeared on usnews.com
