| If you are planning to relocate for your retirement, | | | | with a simple ramp if it is necessary in the future. |
| or simply want a new home in the same community, | | | | Once you've entered the home, consider its layout. |
| you are probably looking for a nice home to retire to. | | | | Obviously, you'll want everything on a single floor. |
| Well this is the perfect time to plan a little further | | | | Look for open layouts. The fewer doorways the |
| ahead. | | | | better. Wide hallways are also important, and can be |
| Maybe you have aspirations of moving again in the | | | | quite elegant. |
| future, but for many people, retirement is a time | | | | For the doorways that are necessary, such as |
| when the stresses of life are to be left behind. This | | | | bedrooms and bathrooms, make them larger. |
| can include home-buying and moving. So if there is | | | | Obviously this is easiest if you are having the home |
| any chance that the next home you buy will be your | | | | built for you, but it may be possible to widen existing |
| last, do yourself a favor and consider your future | | | | doors if necessary. Do some research before you |
| needs. | | | | buy to find out if it will be possible in the home you |
| While your mobility might be great at the moment, | | | | are interested in. A minimum doorway width should |
| chances are that as you age, eventually there will | | | | be 32 inches to make it fit the average wheelchair. |
| come a time when stairs are not your best friend. | | | | In places like the bathroom, it is always possible to |
| Considering accessibility might seem far-fetched while | | | | add hand-railings later, if needed. But consider ease of |
| you are still young, but it just the thing that could | | | | mobility could influence the layout in other ways. |
| determine your future comfort. Homes can be | | | | Make sure toilets aren't too high. Have lower medicine |
| designed to be accessible without compromising style. | | | | cabinets and full-length mirrors. Consider installing one |
| It is entirely possible to build a home designed for | | | | of the very popular large showers stalls, as climbing in |
| complete wheelchair access and mobility without | | | | and out of a bathtub may become a hassle one day. |
| anyone ever noticing. | | | | Designing your home for maximum ease of mobility |
| First things first, consider how the front door is | | | | can improve your life at any age, and it can easily |
| accessed. Choose a home or building site where the | | | | look very fashionable. So do yourself a favor and |
| driveway is on the same level as the home's | | | | consider your future when you design your next |
| entrance. While many homes seem to have at least | | | | home. Even if you end up moving and never needing |
| one step going into them, it is possible to avoid this | | | | the special measures you took to make it more |
| feature. If for some reason you can't avoid it, | | | | accessible, you are making your home attractive to a |
| however, it should be easy to cover just one step | | | | niche market of buyers, and that's a good thing, too. |