Accessible Housing — What Is It?
Wikipedia defines accessible housing as the construction or modification (such as through renovation or home modification) of housing to enable independent living for persons with disabilities.
Accessibility is not only achieved through architectural design, but also by integrating accessibility features such as modified furniture, shelves and cupboards, or even electronic devices in the home.
As a former real estate professional, working with the senior community for 11 years, it was essential to be aware of my Clients needs, for living-in-place, i.e., one floor vs. two, suitable hall and door widths, steps vs. no steps, quality of life, and the list goes on.
When my Husband and I started looking for our retirement home we recognized it would be the last home we would be purchasing and like many others in their pre-retirement years purchased a home to “age-in-place.”
Today, an individual doesn’t have to be handicapped to live in a home without stairs.
So, our list of requirements for our retirement home was:
· One floor
· No stairs, including the entry way
· Wider hallways and doors
· One to five years old
· No snow and under $150,000
Little did we know that these same requirements would become the norm for many aging-in-place folks.
In an article in The Myrtle Beach Sun News, dated 12/24/16, it stated “by 2034. One in three households in the U.S. are projected to be headed by someone age 65 or older and 17 million households are expected to include someone with a disability that affects their physical ability.”
In 2014, AARP conducted a survey that cited 87 percent of seniors wanted to remain in their homes as long as possible.
So what is the big deal? Good question.
The housing stock has not kept up with this demand and as a result there is a shortage of these types of housing. The housing industry needs to rethink how they are going to provide enough suitable housing for this demand.
As a result, some people have decided to stay where they are and remodel their existing home or family members are remodeling their homes so that parents or siblings can move in with them.
In response to this increased demand, some construction companies are changing their standards and building to support the demand for people aging-in-place to include in-law suites.
It is all about supply and demand and providing affordable housing that meets the needs of the Client.
Whether you’re buying or selling and are over the age of 50, you need to consider a real estate professional who has the knowledge and marketing experience in working with the senior community .
Fortunately, baby boomers are a wealthy demographic compared to previous generations. For the most part, they can afford to pay for the services necessary to maintain their lifestyles. This includes continuing to live at home in their own communities. According to research by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), nearly 90 percent of seniors have this goal.
