If you are a senior who is having a home built, you should make sure that the home is designed so that it can accommodate you as you age. Having a home that is designed to meet your needs ensures that you can stay in your home for as long as possible. Here are five elements you should consider.

Bathrooms

The bathroom can be one of the most dangerous areas of the home, especially for falls which affect a huge percentage of senior Australians. To ensure that your new bathroom can keep pace with your changing mobility needs and challenges, install showers that can have bars added. If installing a bathtub, make sure that it is a walk-in tub with hinged sides.

Entryways

Many people spend significant amounts of money modifying their entryways after they have been living in a home for a while, but if you are having a new home built and designed, you can make a hospitable entryway immediately. Insist on a wide front door that can accommodate walkers or wheelchairs, do not have stairs leading up to your door and add an awning so that you can enter your home away from the elements.

Stairways

Many seniors opt for single floor living, and if that appeals to you, you can have a beautiful home built with everything on one level. If you want to have stairs added to your home, make sure that they are wide, easy to climb and have a sturdy railing. Ideally, you want stairs that can easily have a railing lift attached to them if you need it. Avoid transition stairs – do not have a stair or two leading from one area to another. Over time, these levels can become cumbersome and dangerous.

Windows

When people talk about modifying a home for a senior, they typically focus on issues related to impaired mobility or increased falls. However, depression is a key issue that should also be considered. According to some estimates, between 14 and 26 percent of seniors in Australia experience depression. Although you may need to take many different treatment approaches if you eventually fall prey to depression, sunlight can help. When building your home, add as many windows as possible, and talk with the builder about orienting the home in a way that maximises natural light.

Lighting

If your eyesight starts to fail, you will be glad that you paid attention to the lighting in the design process of your new home. Ideally, all of your rooms should be relatively evenly lit. That allows you to go from room to room without issue. You should also have task lighting in individual rooms as well as lighting down hallways and corridors.

For more information, contact a company such as Jac Homes.