Talk Up Age-in-Place Home Possibilities

Talk Up Age-in-Place Home Possibilities
As the population ages, the demand for age-in-place home features is growing. The population of Americans 65 and older is estimated to rise to 73 million by 2030, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
Read more: Help Clients Find a Home for Life
As such, more home owners may be looking for ways to adapt their home as they age or how to adapt a home they move into. Contractors say they’ve already seen a boom in this side of their business. You may want to add some to your network to assist clients in seeing the possibilities.
According to a recent study by HomeAdvisor, “Aging in Place Survey Report,” the following top five universal design projects were reported by repair contractors:
- Adding grab bars in the home, such as the bathroom or bedroom.
- Adding a ramp to the home’s entrance
- Widening doorways
- Adding a bathroom on the home’s first floor
- Adding lever handles on the doors.
What’s more, contractors say home automation is growing in popularity with the aging population, such as all-in-one remote controls and smart phone apps that control temperature, light, and other elements of the home.
Home owners aren't waiting until retirement to make age-in-place renovations. Fifty-six percent of survey respondents who had used a contractor for aging-specific projects were under the age of 65.
Source: “Aging-in-Place Options Most Popular with Baby Boomers,” The Washington Post (March 14, 2016)
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