Less is More
How to turn your home into a friend in older age - on a shoestring budget
Many of us live in our homes for a long time. We want or need to keep living there for as long as possible. How can we turn our home into a friend instead of an obstacle course, as we grow older–without breaking the bank?
I am seeing things around my house with new eyes. I am asking each thing: ‘How are you serving me?’ I am asking myself: ‘How can I shift things, so they can serve me as I grow older?’
These few simple questions by a participant in one of our recent Aging 360 workshops can serve as a guide to home improvements that work with what you have, are free or cost very little, but can make a big difference in your ability to safely age in your home with delight.
See things around your house with new eyes.
Furniture bought for good reason years ago can become immobilized, locked in place, even though it no longer serves us. A chair, for example, placed in the dining room, becomes storage space for magazines rather than a place to sit. Perhaps now it might work better in the bedroom, as a place to dress and undress. Or we might not use it anymore because the seat is hard, and it’s uncomfortable to sit on for long periods.
The same holds true for everyday tools or our collections. If it hurts our back every time we bend over to reach our pots and pans, why not move them from the lower kitchen cabinets? Not using that family heirloom? What’s the best place for grandma’s water pitcher, so you can enjoy it every day?
These are just a few of the questions you can ask yourself. It takes courage to acknowledge lifestyle changes—that our bodies and minds aren’t the same and will continue to change. The world around us, starting with our home, can help us adapt and adjust to some of these changes.
Ask each thing: ‘How are you serving me?’
This question changes up how we’re used to doing things, adapting to our environments–-from counter heights to light levels—conditioned to the way we (or somebody else in our household) might have set things up years ago.
For example (and for fun), ask the following long-term fixtures: ‘How are you serving me?’
Chair:
Are you in the right place for what I am using you for?
Is it easy for me to sit down and get up?
Can I sit on you for a long time without getting a backache?
Bathroom light fixture:
Why are you casting a shadow on my face?
Can I easily reach you when I have to clean you?
Kitchen counter:
Are you at the right height for preparing my food?
Easy to clean?
Close to my stove?
Window:
Can I open you without much effort?
Do you produce glare at certain times of the day?
Take some time, walk around your home, starting with the areas essential to your daily life and well-being. While you’re at it, ask this question along the way and take note.
How can I shift things so they can serve me better as I grow older?
This question is key in making change. Dig deep, experimenting and exploring different ways to improve the function, safety, and delight of various things and areas of your home. Reflect on how a shift impacts you. Keep experimenting, and take your time.
Here are some examples of problems and solutions from participants in our Aging 360 workshops:
Living room: “I spend a lot of time in my living room and have let items accumulate there over time until I really don't notice them. I created game shelves for visiting children seven years ago; they have been joined by flashlights, sunglasses, and the VCR tapes I could not part with after a purge.”
Solution: For each area, either get rid of objects, find a place to store them out of sight, or display favorite objects with intent for enjoyment. Just keep at it until the job is done.
Basement stairs: “The stairs are narrow, dark, and feel dangerous.”
Solution: Remove the old stair runner, paint the treads and risers in contrasting colors, and install an LED light strip along it.
Small bathroom: “The space under the pedestal sink which is used for much needed storage reduces the floor space in the bathroom and my ability to maneuver around.”
Solution: I’m going to clear the space under the sink and use hanging storage on the door.
Tips to get started to remove obstacles to your health and well-being:
Take photos of a room. A photo can offer a more neutral perspective; you may notice things you might not otherwise.
Show the photos to some friends and family members. Let them describe what they see: New eyes see new things!
Identify things you’d like to change.
Start to experiment.
Note how these shifts change the way you
) feel about your home
) use your home.
Check in with yourself, occasionally; see what you can do to make it easier to do daily tasks, remove barriers to enjoying your home, hold on to something for better balance.
If you’d like to explore this process deeper with others, check out the Aging 360 workshop.
So apt for my recent kitchen "semi-remodel ". When my washer (in the kitchen) motor burned out, I thought if I replace it, I should replace the flooring. Then it occurred to me to remove the "nook" which, despite providing storage and shelves, took up a lot of space. The result is a more spacious kitchen with food closer to the prep area....and nice, easily cleaned floors. New lighting added better focused illumination too.