Does your home measure up to the 3 feet rule?
Aging well in your home means having a plan to stay in your home as long as possible. The first element is making sure your home can accommodate changing needs as you age, such as managing a walker.
I want you to open up the tape measure you received.
Go grab it now, I’ll wait…
Now that you have your tape measure – go measure the inside width of your front door. And then go measure your bathroom and bedroom doors.
Are all doors 36″ wide on the inside the door frame?
Yes – all the doors are 36″ wide
Congratulations, your home has met one significant criteria for aging in place.
Now let’s examine what other elements of your home will support your aging well goals.
No – all the doors are not 36″ wide
Don’t feel bad, most homes in Edmonton don’t meet this door width.
Now let’s take a look at how your home measures up in other ways.
If your plan is to age well in your home, taking inventory of what parts can work in your home is important. By planning your home renovations in advance you can hopefully avoid a housing crisis. Get a sense of what work you need to do in your home.
If you have any trouble with your download, please contact Jolyn for assistance.
How does your home measure up to the elements of ‘universal design’?
The more elements of universal design your home has, the better your chances to remain independent in your home as long as possible.
Jolyn Hall, BScN, SRES®, CRTS™
55+ Housing Navigator
Owner, Edmonton55
Now that you have an awareness of how your home can support your aging goals – you can start making a plan to move forward.
It’s never too early to start planning renovations for your home. If your home needs too much work, or it’s not feasible to do renovations, then you can begin to plan for a future move.
Your aging goals start with an an understanding how your home can or cannot support you.
