The vast majority of seniors in the United States want to be able to remain in their homes for as long as possible. It’s easy to see why—the prospect of remaining in a home they have grown to love over the course of decades, in many cases, is certainly more appealing than moving into an assisted living facility or nursing home. Builders in Williamsburg, VA are fielding an increasing number of requests for aging-in-place renovations and remodels as a result.
Here are just a few reasons why seniors prefer to age in place whenever possible:
- Independence: The decline seniors experience in their physical and cognitive conditions can make everyday life difficult. But being able to remain in home even with professional caregivers still gives seniors more of a feeling of independence than having to move into an assisted living facility.
- Familiarity: There is something to be said for remaining in a familiar setting with familiar routines. The emotional value of staying in a home can be extremely powerful. It is a place to cherish as being one’s own, one that comes with many important memories attached.
- Health and safety: Staying at home makes for a healthier environment because there is nowhere near the same risk of bacteria or viral infection. In addition, seniors who go into assisted living facilities or nursing homes are much more likely to experience stress and depression, which can accelerate cognitive and physical decline.
- Cost savings: It costs far less to remain in one’s home and outfit it for extra needs than it does to go to an assisted living center, where a shared room may run $10,000 to $20,000 per year and a private room may be five times that.
Ranch-style homes make aging in place easier
The problem with aging in place is that certain styles of homes might not be conducive to it. People with two-story homes might find it difficult to get up and down stairs as their mobility decreases.
This is why ranch-style homes are particularly beneficial for people who wish to age in place. These homes have long, open floor plans that feature living areas and bedrooms on the same floor. Ranch homes may have basements, so they may not completely avoid the use of stairs, but they can at least be arranged so that everything the homeowner needs is on a single level.
Ranch-style homes will allow seniors to maintain a similar quality of life in their home well into their later years, even as new aches, pains and other conditions develop and make it more difficult for them to get around. They are also easier to outfit for specific needs—you won’t have to worry about installing lifts to get upstairs, so the modifications you need to make are nowhere near as significant or expensive. Ranch-style homes are also simply easier to clean up and maintain if you continue to have friends and relatives over.
Interested in learning more about ranch-style homes and how they can help you age in place? Contact our builders in Williamsburg, VA with any questions you have.