The new catchphrase among homeowners is “aging in place.” Instead of selling their homes and moving into retirement villages or assisted-living quarters, a growing number of older Americans are modifying their homes to make them more user-friendly as they age.
“Aging in place is a near and dear subject,” said Karen Kassik, president of Home Accessibilities, a residential design firm that focuses on building barrier-free homes.
The inspiration for the firm was Kassik’s experience with her own mother, who moved into Kassik’s newly remodeled home in Casselberry, Fla., while recovering from foot surgery. Thinking the visit would last only a few months, Kassik installed her mother in the master suite while she moved into the tiny guest bedroom. But it soon became apparent her mother would not be able to live alone.
Kassik’s 1,300-square-foot house, with its narrow doorways and awkward steps, was unsuited to someone struggling to get around with a walker. Rather than remodel a second time, Kassik decided to build a larger, more-accessible home in the same neighborhood.
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