Most of us have been asked, “Are you planning to stay in your house or move to something smaller? Do you plan to move to a different locale when you retire?” I was surprised by how early some of the queries started.

Why Are We Choosing to Stay in Our Homes?

Recent research on those preparing for retirement indicates that many of us choose to stay in our homes, even if our house is a bit bigger than what we need daily. There are a few reasons for this.

The cost of housing has skyrocketed in recent years so downsizing doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll save a lot buying a smaller home. That’s a real bummer for those who planned on using the equity left from their current home as retirement income after downsizing.
Competition for housing is fierce making a move challenging. A former neighbor sold his home a few years ago when interest rates were at 2-3% and he was thrilled by how much his home was worth. Unfortunately, he and his wife are still renting an apartment 3 years later. Competition and lack of new inventory have meant their new home search has been frustratingly long and prices have increased significantly since they sold.
Today’s retirees value spending time with family and extended family so having extra bedrooms for visitors is a plus (and sometimes a necessity).
Housing costs (both renting and buying) across the US have kept our adult children home longer than expected, with no near-term solution in sight.
COVID-19 had many of us wanting or using more space in our homes than in prior years. Spare bedrooms became offices; basements became gyms; some hobbies and crafts got started requiring space; and independent adult children returned home from their small city apartments to ride out COVID with family. Before COVID, some of us thought our homes were too big, but during and after COVID, not so much. For some, what we are comfortable with for home size requirements has changed due to COVID. Having some extra space doesn’t feel the same as it might have pre-COVID.

Does Your Home Reflect Your Current and Future Needs?

So if you are staying put (for whatever reason), what changes do you need or want to make to your home? Does your home reflect your entire wish list based on your current needs, tastes, and lifestyle? Is it set up for what you may need as you age in place?

For most of us who are 50+, our ‘home’ has undergone many transformations over the years. It has supported kids, short- and long-term visitors, spouses or ex-spouses, and the additional cat, dog, hamster, or goldfish. Some of us may have three generations under one roof and are caregivers. A home changes with our needs.

Take a Hard Look at Your Home

It’s time to decide if your home reflects who you are today and supports the lifestyle you now have or will have in the not-too-distant future.

Don’t panic! Not all changes or updates need to be expensive. Here are three steps to get started:

Step 1: Declutter

This is top on virtually every homeowner’s list as they prepare for retirement. As your life simplifies (no work, fewer responsibilities), it’s only natural to want your home to simplify.

You don’t need to become another Marie Kondo, the professional tidying expert, or a Swedish Death Cleaning guru, but you do need to put some time and effort into decluttering sooner rather than later.

It makes a difference in multiple ways.

You’ll be doing your kids a huge favor. When you pass, they will be able to mourn without the added stress of having to go through the possessions you had stored for 30 or more years. None of us want our kids to experience that heavy lift at a time of loss.
You’ll be helping others with donations. As I go through my home, room by room, I’m happy to donate good-quality household items, tools, supplies from old hobbies, and clothes that someone else can use.
Decluttering makes rooms feel more spacious and less stuffy. Some people (me for one) find a cluttered room less relaxing than one where everything is in its rightful ‘place’. Your mantra should be ‘Less is more’.

Step 2: Think About Personal Safety

Don’t bury your head in the sand and pretend that nothing is going to change for you, physically or mentally, over the next 10-20 years. As we age, even the healthiest of us are more likely to trip over an uneven floorboard, slip in the shower or tub, or require handrails for those two steps off our deck to the backyard. And many of us will need assistance with tasks we consider simple today.

Look at your home, through the eyes of an older adult, with safety in mind. Anticipate some of your needs should you be less agile as you age. Here are the types of things worth considering before you think you need them:

Bathroom Grab Bars: Should your bathroom be equipped with ADA-compliant grab bars near the toilet and in the tub/shower? The safest option is to have them professionally installed. Although suction bars may seem like a quick solution, they don’t typically meet ADA compliance due to weight capacity requirements. Also, they often slip or fall off the wall. As an example, my aunt was in the shower and grabbed the suction bar as she was slipping only to find it in her hand when she landed on the tub floor. She’s lucky she didn’t break a hip. We may not be at the age and health condition she was at the time of her fall, but why not anticipate a need that will be there at some point?

Bathtub Non-Slip Mat: Is your tub slippery when soapy and wet? If it doesn’t have non-skid strips, an inexpensive non-slip tub mat is a simple solution to stop an accident from happening.
Non-Skid Floor Mats: Matte floor tiles have an anti-slip surface. They are a better choice for bathroom and kitchen floors compared to smooth glossy tile that can be very slippery when wet. Do you need to consider a change? If reflooring is too pricey, at least consider non-skid mats in front of tubs, showers, and sinks. If you have joint issues, you might want to consider a waterproof, non-slip anti-fatigue rug for your kitchen sink area.
Placing Kitchen Items Within Easy Reach: Do you need to use a step stool to get to kitchen items you use all the time? Perhaps it’s time to rethink where you have your dishes and glasses. I’m only 5 feet tall. When I updated my kitchen, I moved my coffee cups to a counter drawer next to the coffee maker, and the dishes were moved to a deep drawer at waist height. We installed a Pegboard Drawer Divider Organizer to keep stacked dishes from sliding into each other when we opened and closed the drawer. Why would I want the items I use every day stored in cabinets above my head? Game changer!!
Cords Are Tripping Hazards: Cords, cords, and more cords? Not only do they scream ‘clutter’ but they are a tripping hazard. Take the time to bundle them together. Conceal your cables and power cords with a cord cover that blends with your flooring.
Handles Instead of Knobs: Door knobs require a grip whereas door handles do not. For your interior doors (closets, bedrooms, baths), handles can be a game-changer, particularly for those who have arthritis in their hands (or have arthritis in their genes).
Improve Lighting, Particularly At Night: Take a hard look at all the rooms you spend time in and make sure they are well-lit. Add a nightlight in hallways and your main pathways (like from bed to bathroom at night). Today, there are electrical receptacle wall plates with LED lights with an auto on/off sensor that casts a downward light at night. Very streamlined look and you’re just changing a switchplate—easy peasy.

Step 3: Make Your Home Systems Smart

Have you ever just sat down after a busy day and then realized you need to adjust the thermostat because it’s chilly in the family room? Wouldn’t it be nice if you could just push a button and make it happen without getting out of your chair? Well, you can.

Consider making your home systems (heat and AC, security, smoke and carbon dioxide detectors, sprinklers, etc.) smart. What does that mean? Smart home systems can be monitored and operated directly from apps on your smartphone regardless of where you are. They can automate simple tasks.

Did you lock all the doors before leaving the house? Check your phone and relieve your worry (or lock them remotely from your phone.)
Check your phone to see if there are packages left on your front steps without leaving your basement workshop. Or, see who’s ringing your bell without going to the door.
Adjust the thermostat a few hours before you arrive home from a trip so that the house is comfortable.

You don’t need to be away from home for smart devices to make sense. They help optimize energy usage that in turn, saves money.

Additionally, and this is a biggie, smart home devices can offer greater independence. You don’t need to physically interact with every device in your home, walking up and down stairs—just use your phone. Also, you can give your son or daughter access to your apps so that they can help you remotely with room temperature, locking all doors at night, etc. And you can automate or schedule different activities using the device’s smart app on your phone.

Not sure about the value? Here’s an example: I got locked out one very cold day when I took the dog out for a quick bio-break. All doors were locked and I could not remember the new garage door passcode. Thankfully, I was able to get in with a quick call to my husband who had the garage door opener app on his smartphone. It took 2 seconds. It made me realize that this particular smart home app should be on my phone as well.

Getting smart is not a simple process. (I couldn’t resist!)

This recent New York Times article can get you started understanding the possibilities. As you’ll see, there are many choices out there and your decisions will be based on what smart system(s) you most want or need. Perhaps you start with a Google Nest Thermostat. It came out many years ago and is a great way to begin the process.

Does Your Home Need a Refresh?

When was the last time you made changes to your home’s decor? Does it look the same as it did 15 or 20 years ago? Don’t know where to begin? Worried about the cost? There are some simple things you can do without breaking the bank. Stay tuned!

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