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Last week, we shared home renovation ideas to keep your aging parents safe at home.
It’s not easy, especially if you have a limited budget in place.
So today, we’re going to talk about how to plan home renovations within your budget.
Let’s get it started…
Home renovation ideas that make aging in place possible can be significant investments for seniors.
It’s also common to find unexpected challenges during a renovation.
Retrofitting the home to accommodate a senior’s needs will often take longer than expected.
And whether it’s a simple renovation or a massive one, families have to live through the disruptions temporarily going inside the house.
It can be constant noise and dust floating around the house. Or it can be inaccessible living spaces until the job gets done.
The good news is that there are ways how we can help seniors manage such situations.
Our loved ones’ safety should always be our priority. And we can do that by separating the work spaces from where our seniors spend time during the day.
Temporarily relocating to a part of the home such as a guest bedroom and bathroom, can allow for work to safely be completer in the primary bathroom for example.
Our seniors should have access to a bathroom, bedroom, and, if possible, a kitchen.
Although some inconvenience is to be expected during a renovation, their temporary space should also be redesigned to keep seniors relaxed.
Find ways to help your loved one pass the time without them having to go looking for something to do.
Suggest watching a new show or have plenty of reading material or puzzle books available.
This can keep them from distractions around the house.
Set up temporary barriers from the work zone. And if possible, renovate only one area at a time to keep other sites available.
Know when the workers will be present to safely stay out of their way and allow them to complete the job as efficiently as possible.
Staying within the budget for a home renovation can be a challenging process. It's easy to spend more than what you originally intended.
Fortunately, there are tips on creating a realistic budget and sticking to it.
And one of the first things to know is that you must prioritize.
Have a plan and list must-haves for the area if the budget allows.
Know when to cut some costs without compromising the home quality. Have an estimate of your projected expenses and remember to set a limit.
Use resources like Remodeling Calculator and HomeAdvisor to find estimates for several home renovation projects.
Sometimes, turning to potential help like government home renovation grants or private organizations help cover these costs.
They’re designed to accommodate elderly and disabled persons to home modifications.
They also provide homeowners with sponsored financial help when needed.
However, such programs aren’t available to all. Individuals should meet specific criteria to qualify for the grant programs.
If one’s not eligible for a repair grant, there are alternatives to make home renovations more affordable.
A home equity line of credit or a reverse mortgage are ways to access the equity in a home to pay for necessary renovations.
Home renovation ideas can get overwhelming and time-consuming.
Fortunately, here are three practical tips to help you have a smooth renovation for an aging-in-place home.
Sharing your home renovation ideas with experts is a great way to start.
They understand the aging in place renovation market and the resources available for our loved ones.
And they can give you advice on how to go on your project, especially if you’re not sure what kind of projects you need for the home.
Instead of tackling the whole house renovation in one sweep, it’s better to approach it in sections.
For instance, you can start with simple projects before massive renovations.
You can switch doorknobs to lever types of handles for easy grasp.
Or you can also add elements to the bathroom to reduce the risk of falls, such as portable shower chairs or change to adjustable showerheads.
Here’s a quick checklist guide to aging-in-place remodeling.
The last tip is to determine your budget.
The financing includes materials, cosmetic touches, permits, and labor costs.
Also, you should have set aside at least 10% extra money for unexpected mishaps along the way.
If the cost exceeds your budget limit, it’s time to use the home renovation tip two to reduce project elements of low priorities.
Last, here are some resources that our loved ones can turn to for help in reducing the costs of home renovation:
Home renovation ideas can be challenging especially if you’re on a budget.
Fortunately, there are tips to help you still upgrade a loved one’s home to an aging in place environment.
That's all for today.
Take care, keep mom safe and have a great day!
Winn
I am a Doctor of Physical Therapy and have been working with the 70+ age group for over a decade. I will share my knowledge and experience to give you ideas to care for your aging parents. Read more >>