Everyone wants to stay in their home while they age. Moving and giving up the familiarity of the home you have worked so hard to build is not what you had in mind for your retirement. If you are 62 or older, you should look into a Reverse Mortgage. Reverse Mortgages allow you to stay in your home and can provide the income you need to make changes to accommodate your aging years. Enjoy this article and contact Bay Area Reverse Mortgage for information regarding a reverse mortgage in Oakland CA.

Aging In Place  
Courtesy of ARAcontent

(ARA) – Aging in place – updating one’s home to accommodate changing needs and abilities as one ages – doesn’t have to mean sacrificing a home’s style and decor. From attractive lighting designed to work well for aging eyes to barrier-free shower stalls that compete in beauty and practicality with what you might find in a luxury community for those 55 and older, plenty of home modifications now make it possible to age in place gracefully and stylishly.

“It’s no longer necessary to give up your home’s good looks for a more institutional-looking appearance just to achieve a safer, more usable house,” says Eric Kozak of Premier Care In Bathing, leading makers of walk-in baths. “You can age in place and retain the style that makes living in your home comfortable and safe, and maintain your independence at the same time.”

With more than 78 million baby boomers growing older in the United States, aging in place – and how to do it well – is a hot topic for many homeowners. If you’re planning ahead or thinking it’s now time to update your home to accommodate changing needs, keep a few things in mind:

Kitchens and baths are commonly the most challenging rooms in the house for people, like many seniors, with mobility issues. Updating these rooms can go a long way toward helping you stay in and enjoy your own home for as long as possible. “Bathrooms, in particular, pose safety issues. Falls are one of the leading reasons seniors must go into nursing homes and most home falls occur in the bathroom,” Kozak says.

When renovating your bathroom, focus on the important elements, including low-level entryways, accessible grab bars, easy grip faucets and showers with safety screens. Other elements include safer, slip-resistant flooring; brighter, more flexible lighting; and safe access to the shower or bathtub.

Walk in showers

Stepping in and out of a tub or shower is one of the riskiest times for people with mobility challenges. Appropriately placed grab bars – now available in designer colors and textures – can help improve safety in these high-risk areas. Another option that’s high on safety and style is to replace a current shower or tub with a walk-in shower like those now offered by Premier Care In Bathing, whose walk-in bathtubs have made bathing safer and more convenient for thousands of Americans with mobility issues. The walk-in showers are a good option for wheelchair users or in rooms where a full-size tub is not practical.

Flooring

That tile floor that you adored in your 40s can be a slip hazard when you reach your 70s. In fact, any hard bathroom floor surface such as linoleum, vinyl or tile can put you at increased risk of slipping and falling. Carpeting might be a better option, one that is slip resistant and warmer and softer on the feet. Many manufacturers now offer materials that are attractive and able to repel moisture. If installing carpeting isn’t practical for you, use area rugs with sticky backing to help ensure safe footing in high traffic areas, like in front of the commode, sink and bathtub.

Lighting

Aging eyes not only need more light to see, they need better quality light, especially at night. Avoid dim lighting; older eyes need several times more light than younger eyes to see well, experts say. Increase the amount of light in your bathroom and consider using naturally brighter bulbs like compact fluorescent bulbs, which are also energy-efficient.

Be aware of glare, as well. Bright lights bouncing off all-white bathroom surfaces can create glare that makes it difficult to see and navigate for older people, especially at night when they may not be fully awake. If your bath is all white, paint the walls a light color in a finish that will help reduce glare. Use area rugs on white floors to help break up the expanse of white and reduce glare.

“Boomers aging in place will find more options than ever before to do so with style,” Kozak says. “Safety should be your first concern, but you can also enjoy good style and beautiful design as well.”

To find out more about a Reverse Mortgage in Oakland CA, contact Bay Area Reverse Mortgage at (510) 214-8309. Our team of experts can answer all of your questions and provide you with the knowledge you need to help you stay comfortably in your home.

There are many ways that seniors can cut housing costs but only one that actually pays you. If you are considering ways to cut costs, consider a reverse mortgage in Oakland CA from Bay Area Reverse Mortgage. Enjoy this article and call us if you would like more information.

9 Ways to Cut Housing Costs
By Steve Vernon

Housing costs are one-third of the average American household’s budget, the largest monthly expense for most families. And since reducing living costs is the most common way to make ends meet in retirement, it makes sense to take a hard look at your housing costs.

Since most Americans have insufficient savings to fund a traditional retirement, they’ll need to look for creative ways to make every dollar count, and finding resourceful ways to lower housing costs will help.

Here are nine ways to pare your housing budget:

•     Downsize to a smaller house, with reduced bills for utilities, maintenance, and property taxes. You might also be able to realize some home equity that can be invested to generate retirement income.
•     Move to a location that enables you to reduce other costs, such as transportation or health care. This could mean moving out of the suburbs and into a city.
•     Move to a less expensive part of the country. There are a number of Best Places to Retire sites that you can review some to give you ideas. [Read: Top 10 Retirement Towns for 2011]
•     Move to another country with dramatically reduced living costs. Panama, Costa Rica and some South American and European countries consistently show up on lists reviewing best places to live abroad.
•     Rent out a room or two for additional income. This solution works best if you don’t want to move and have a large house. After my daughter graduated from college, she rented a room from a retired couple for a year. It was win-win situation: My daughter had inexpensive housing, and the couple realized some extra spending money.
•     Share housing with other retirees — the Golden Girls solution. Not only will you share in the cost of housing, but you can also realize savings in regards to your insurance, utilities and even food. Obviously this option isn’t for everyone, but don’t dismiss it without thinking it through.
•     Consider a reverse mortgage to help you generate retirement income. This solution works for people who own their house and plan to stay for many years. If you didn’t or don’t plan to buy long-term care insurance, however, I prefer that you keep your home equity in reserve for a day when you could face high bills for long-term care.

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Reverse Mortgages have helped many seniors live stress free in their golden years by using the equity in their homes! If you have questions about a reverse mortgage, contact Bay Area Reverse Mortgage at (510) 214-8309 to learn more.