Thank you for visiting the Nashville remodeling blog of Broderick Builders – Nashville’s home remodeler for more than 40 years! Here we take a closer look at the phenomenon known as aging in place. We are seeing quite a bit of aging-in-place remodeling in Nashville these days. Senior couple walking - aging in place - Nashville remodeling trendIf you take a look at any list or article about home remodeling trends, you are going to find several aging-in-place features designed for baby boomers, seniors, and retirees who are getting up in years and want to stay at home. Remodeling for aging in place is all about making things safer, easier, and more convenient; reducing the chances of slipping, tripping, or falling; ensuring the main areas and doorways can easily accommodate a wheelchair; and providing for hearing and visual impairment.

If building or remodeling a Nashville-area home is in your near future, it is well worth the time and effort to consider the concepts of aging in place and universal design during your planning phase. You or someone you know will eventually find the basics of day-to-day living easier to handle with some wise planning. It’s as simple as this: planning ahead for the possibility limited mobility is a smart play.

What’s behind the aging-in-place trend?

Today’s families are sharing their homes with their elderly, Baby-Boomer parents or other aging relatives with increasing frequency, often out of necessity. In present times, grown children are remaining at home or returning to their original homes more often, and single parents are sharing their homes with their parents. As a result, there is a huge and still-growing trend of remodeling with aging parents and other seniors in mind. This ever-greater percentage of older folks living at home (and fewer in assisted living or nursing home environments) is fueling the growth of aging-in-place renovations and remodeling in Nashville and beyond.

But all members of the household actually benefit from this type of remodeling. The ease-of-access improvements create an environment with less inherent risk, so it makes things easier for everyone – not just the older folks.

Per the AARP, about 90 percent of seniors intend to live in their own home for a minimum of five to ten years after turning 65. Because people are living so much longer, it is estimated that around three million individuals will turn 65 every single year for the next two decades!

Call Broderick Builders today at 615.385.3210 or use our contact form

Universal design: A new science

The realities of present-day demographics in America (and indeed around the globe) has resulted in a brand new architectural discipline: The science of universal design. In the specialty of universal design, environments and products are designed and created to offer safety and comfort for all types and ages of people, making further adaptation or functional changes largely or completely unnecessary.

Popular remodels for aging in place

Two of the main issues addressed by aging-in-place remodeling are challenges relating to the mobility and vision of the elderly. We at Broderick Builders are seeing quite a bit of remodeling to help with these issues, most often in our bathroom and bedroom remodels, but also in other parts both inside and outside of the home such as stairs. There are also some audio-visual improvements that can help folks who are hard of hearing or with vision issues such as macular degeneration.

Here are some of the more popular remodeling requests we are seeing as part of the age-in-place trend that will surely be a reality for at least the next two or three decades. This is not a comprehensive list; upcoming articles will cover remodeling specific areas of the house in great detail.)

Bat grab bars - Bathroom remodeling Nashville - aging in place

    • Comfort-height toilets: Toilets that sit higher than standard to make it easier to sit and get up
    • Bath bars: Handles affixed to the wall to make it much easier to get in and out of the tub or shower
    • Step-through tubs
    • No-curb showers: Eliminates the need to step over something to get in and out of the shower
    • Main living space (including full /master bath) on the ground floor
    • Hallways and doorways at least 32 inches in width
    • 36-inch doors (generally required to achieve 32-inches of clear space through doorways
    • Non-slip flooring
    • Sidelight(s) at all entry doorways

Improve home security as part of your next Nashville remodel

Did you know that most residential entrance doors can be kicked in without too much effort? If your home still has standard front and back doors, let us help you improve your security.

Whether you’re putting in a new mudroom, building a master suite, remodeling the attic, or renovating the entire house, there’s no better time to improve the security of your home. As a long-dedicated, deeply experienced Nashville remodeling contractor, we know the local building codes and the home security products and features that really work.

Now is the time! Let Broderick Builders help you protect your loved ones and your property by making affordable home security improvements along with any other remodeling. [ Contact form ]

  • Peepholes at the appropriate height
  • Accessible doorbell
  • A place to set purses, packages, etc. beside entry door
  • Flush (or at least very low) thresholds between rooms
  • Chair lifts to eliminate walking up and down the stairs
  • Enough windows for good natural lighting
  • Simple, straightforward window hardware for ease of use
  • Low windows or taller windows with accessible (lower) window sill

Please check back soon for more Nashville remodeling ideas, trends, suggestions, and tips from the pros!

Resources: Aging-in-place remodeling in Nashville

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