According to a recent AARP survey, most older Americans -- 83 percent -- wish to "age in place" or, in less technical terms, to stay in their houses for the rest of their lives or as long as their health and financial needs allow.
Why? Familiarity. They are used to their surroundings. They like being close to family and friends. Because they know the house and their neighborhood, they feel more secure than pulling up stakes and heading off to a faraway location in the desert or at the coast.
Aging in place, however, appears to require as much thought and planning as pulling up stakes and moving to a condo in Florida or Arizona.
Whether they live on their own or with extended family, seniors should make decisions on interior design and furnishings that will make their living environment friendlier, safer and more enjoyable, especially as changing health needs alter lifestyle.
Davis Remignanti, the lead designer of Furniture.com, said that a more senior-friendly home for someone who lives with family would involve turning the older person's bedroom into a "private sanctuary."
The bedroom is often the senior's only personal space in a house full of children and grandchildren. By customizing furnishings for the room, one can create a sanctuary, ensuring the person's privacy, making spaces for hobbies and crafts, and offering abundant storage for memorabilia.
The main focus of the room should be the bed, since as people age, they tend to spend as much time in their beds as the typical teenager. When selecting a bed for this personalized space, be certain that it provides easy access, both on and off, and appropriate support and comfort.
Choosing a mattress is not an easy matter, since design technology has increased the number of offerings, and prices for even a single can often start $300. Still, the research will likely pay off.
Another way to make a house more senior friendly is by removing the clutter. Clear away items such as small home accessories, plants, magazine racks and other unnecessary objects that clutter pathways or would require individuals to walk around to avoid.
Doing this, and leaving at least 36 inches between objects, will create a path that would accommodate wheelchairs or walkers.
Aging, of course, affects eyesight, and older people need more light to see properly. Find ways to increase natural and artificial light by keeping shades and curtains opened during daylight hours and adding lamps and task lighting to areas that are used for detail work, such as reading or hobbies.
Wall switches to control lighting should be placed at room-entry points, Remignanti said. For seniors with serious eyesight problems, some architects and designers recommend color-coding to differentiate objects.
Remignanti takes this attempt to enhance visibility several steps further by recommending home furnishings in hues that contrast against their backgrounds.
"To open-up and enliven small spaces, consider whites, light neutral colors, blues, greens and light violet as wall colors to help rooms appear larger," Remignanti said.
Storing clothes and other possessions should be made easy. Provide adequate, easily accessible storage that doesn't require reaching, bending or straining.
Choose dressers and wardrobes with large or D-loop handles that don't require fine-finger dexterity, since arthritis affects more and more Americans as they age.
"Many children's dressers feature easy-rolling guides and built-in safety stops" that will work perfectly for seniors, Remignanti said.
In the kitchen, seniors should have a seated work area for food preparation tasks. Perhaps a small table and chair in a comfortable location, with easy access to utensils nearby, could be established as a workplace.
Once the food is prepared, it is time to sit down and eat. Remignanti recommends "investing in dining chairs that provide good back support and have strong, sturdy arms."
Seat cushioning adds comfort, but should be securely fitted to the chair.
Finally, "blend and compromise," the design consultant suggests.
Respect is the watchword when integrating any relative's home furniture into your own home design. Compromise when faced with the question of placing a well-loved but less-than-décor-complementary piece in the living room.
If it's a definite 'no,' get creative. Instead, reserve a corner for it in the senior's bedroom.
"Remember that the goal in redesigning a living space for senior use is to enable that senior to maintain her freedom within a safe, comfortable and friendly living environment," Remignanti said. "Communication is crucial. Share opinions and ideas and create the solution together."
