People conduct home renovations at all stages of life, adapting their homes to their current needs or anticipating future living. For older people, this might mean considering the installation of grab bars, adding stair lifts, widening doorways, or remodeling bathrooms to make them more accessible, so that their home becomes safer and more comfortable. While these home improvements can certainly help in some cases, they’re not always the best long-term solution.
In fact, there are several reasons why relying on home improvements alone might not meet your needs as you get older. This includes:
1. Home Improvements Take Time You May Not Have
Renovating a home to make it senior-friendly isn’t a quick fix. Between planning, hiring contractors, getting permits, and completing construction, even small projects can take months. For those considering adding a bedroom or bathroom on the ground floor, they might find it could take a year or more.
If your health is already declining or your needs are changing quickly, waiting for the perfect home setup might leave you struggling in a space that no longer works for you.
2. The Costs Can Add Up Fast
Home modifications can be surprisingly expensive. Ramps, stair lifts, accessible showers, or widened doorways can cost thousands, and that’s just the start, because unexpected repairs or upgrades often arise once work begins.
What’s more, many people find that even after making these investments, they still need to hire outside help, like home health aides, cleaners, or meal delivery services. The combined cost of modifications and ongoing support can end up being higher than the cost of living in a care home, where all these services are already included.
3. Your Needs May Outgrow the House Anyway
Even with modifications, a private home is still just that, a home, not a healthcare facility. You might still face challenges like managing medications, getting to doctor appointments, handling emergencies, or staying socially engaged.
Care homes, on the other hand, are designed specifically for people with changing health needs. They offer everything you need in terms of healthcare, but also much more, including on-site activities, prepared meals, housekeeping, and laundry services.
In short, a care home already has everything in place that you might spend years and too much money on trying to create at home, and it offers peace of mind for both you and your family, so you should consider the benefits of moving into one of the Bath care homes instead.
4. Modifications Can Affect Your Home’s Future Value
While accessibility upgrades might improve your quality of life, they don’t always increase your home’s value. In some cases, they can make it harder to sell later. Features like stair lifts, widened doorways, or walk-in showers may not appeal to younger buyers or families, who might see them as features they would need to remove or remodel. This can limit your pool of buyers and potentially reduce your home’s resale value, meaning you may not recoup the money you invested. If you want to pass this money on to your loved ones or use it to pay for healthcare needs, it might be worth moving before you start making major changes to your home.
Summary
While making home improvements can help in some situations, it’s important to be realistic about the time, cost, and limitations involved. Instead of pouring resources into a home that may still fall short of your future needs, consider whether moving to a care home could offer you the comfort, safety, and support you need right now.
