When Is It Time to Stay Home and Modify?
There have been a couple families that I’ve worked with who have decided to stay in their home and do some modifications for their mom or dad
Sometimes the right answer is…. staying
Maybe your mom or dad have some minor safety risks, but, overall, the house is in good shape. Sometimes doing some minor modifications to prolong the time they can stay in their house is the right call.
If you are sure the time may be right for your mom or dad, Start here
QUICK ANSWER:
When staying in the house and modifying may makes sense
Staying home works when risks are manageable and the home can be adapted.
What Families Usually Notice First
Sometimes, you may notice some slight memory issues with your mom or dad. It may be repeating some stories or moving a slower than they used to.
Usually, this is the first you’re noticing…
Minor safety issues
lower mobility
Small home challenges
This is a perfect time to start the discussion about the possible eventual move. It can get them used to the idea
Together, you can
Signs It Might Work to Stay Home
The opportunity is the best chance to do some minor modifications to the home with their partnership. This is especially true when…
Strong support systems around them to help with some modifications, both physically and monetarily.
Safe layout in place to prevent expensive overhauls to the house.
Cognitive stability to prevent your mom or dad to get confused and agitated
Willingness to adapt to the modifications in the house and the good possibility it’s only temporary.
Starting the conversation is the best first step
One of the most important modifications is getting additional care and support by bringing in professionals, visiting your mom and dad more often, and even planning social events with friends and family.
What A Lot of Families Get Wrong
When working to modify a house for a mom or dad, the renovations and modifications can get expensive and some are not convenient.
The biggest thing that I’ve encountered when this is an option is the lack of reality with things like…
Let’s prepare
•Overestimating safety
• Ignoring future decline
• Avoiding planning
Don’t give into the temptation to think this is long-term option.
Where the House Fits
Your mom or dad’s house has evolved through the years. It may have been…
All of these great changes have made the house adapt. This is no different as you modify the house for your mom or dad as they age with things like
The home causes confusion because their memory and reality no longer line up.
Installing ramps to replace small steps in places like front porches and garages.
Putting grab bars in the bathroom and installing walk-in tubs and showers because these are the most common places people fall. .
Improving lighting with motion-sensor lights, and making suyre there is enough light in places like hallways and staircases.
All of these are relatively inexpensive and do not necessarily take away from the home’s value.
Because this is temporary, it’s a good time to understand what happens to the house
big enough for newlyweds
starting a family
welcoming grandkids
Before you start swinging a hammer, you need to create
A Simple Pathway
Identify risks
Modify the right places in the house
Reassess regularly for needed changes or severity of needs
Check out the more in-depth Right-Sizing guide
Or
Explore some of the options in Denver
What to Do Next?
You don’t need to figure out everything today.
Instead, take the first step to get clarity and or you may already know, so it’s time to Start Here