Is Your Home Aging With You?

Many of us bought our homes when climbing stairs didn’t require a second thought and carrying laundry from the basement felt routine. The house was new, the layout worked, and maintenance seemed manageable.

Over time, both we and our homes have changed. Materials age. Design trends shift. And what once felt convenient may not feel quite as effortless as it used to. The good news is that you don’t need a major renovation to make your home safer and more comfortable for the years ahead. In fact, the smartest updates are often the simplest ones and they’re best made before they become urgent.

A good place to start is right at the front door. Entryways take a beating in New England. Freeze-thaw cycles shift walkways, railings loosen, and lighting fixtures dim or fail. Most household falls don’t happen during dramatic moments; they happen on familiar steps or uneven pavement. Repairing a loose railing, improving exterior lighting, or leveling a walkway may seem minor, but those small corrections make a meaningful difference in safety and confidence, especially during wet or icy months.

Bathrooms are another area worth rethinking. They’re also one of the most common places for accidents, yet many homeowners hesitate to make changes because they don’t want the space to feel clinical. Fortunately, today’s options allow for subtle, well-designed improvements. Grab bars can double as towel bars. Slip-resistant flooring blends seamlessly into modern tile designs. Low-threshold or curbless showers not only look updated, they remove one of the most common tripping points in the home. When these features are incorporated during a planned refresh, they feel like thoughtful upgrades,  not reactive fixes.

It’s also wise to consider how flexible your home’s layout really is. We’re not suggesting everyone relocate bedrooms tomorrow, but it’s worth asking whether your first floor could adapt if needed. Could a den serve as a temporary bedroom? Would relocating laundry to a more accessible area make daily life easier? Even small changes, like replacing round doorknobs with lever-style handles, can reduce strain and make everyday tasks more comfortable.

Lighting is another overlooked factor. As homes age, lighting often stays exactly as it was originally installed. Adding brighter, more evenly distributed light in stairwells, kitchens, garages, and basements improves visibility and reduces shadows. Under-cabinet lighting in a kitchen or motion-sensor lights in a garage aren’t luxury features; they’re practical improvements that make a home function better. Vision changes gradually over time, and thoughtful lighting adjustments help your home keep pace.

Beyond these updates, consistent maintenance becomes increasingly important in older homes. Loose deck boards, worn stair treads, aging caulking, cracked driveways, and deteriorating exterior trim rarely cause immediate problems, but they do compound over time. Staying ahead of those small issues prevents larger repairs later and preserves the integrity of the home you’ve invested in for decades.

One of the most common situations we see is homeowners waiting until something becomes difficult before addressing it and emergency renovations create stress and limit options. Gradual planning allows for better decisions, better design, and often better budgeting. Making small, steady improvements over time keeps you in control.

A well-built home should support you for decades. The goal isn’t to change everything at once, and it certainly isn’t to overreact to normal aging of the house or its owner. It’s simply to ensure that your home continues to work with you. With a little foresight and regular attention, your home can remain safe, comfortable, and enjoyable for many years to come. And that’s always worth planning for.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. For remodeling or home improvement needs, call (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Handy Home Improvements for Aging in Place

Will you stay or will you go? That’s the question that many retirees face as they age. 

According to a recent AARP poll, 90% of people surveyed planned on living at home for at least five to 10 years after they turned 65. So why is staying put such a popular choice? In addition to comfort and proximity to family, another is certainly cost. The average renovation budget for aging in place adds up to around $10,000 versus an assisted living facility which can average around $50,000 per year or much more. 

If you or your parents are considering aging at home, there are some things you can do to make a house more comfortable and safer as getting around becomes increasingly challenging. Popular upgrades such as widening doorways and fitting a walk-in shower should be done by a professional but there are also small things any homeowner can do to start getting prepared. Here are some great DIY ideas:

Grab Bars

A simple grab bar can make everyday tasks like using the bathroom and taking a shower a lot less dangerous. One thing to remember is that a grab bar will potentially have to hold the full weight of a person, so be sure to screw it to wall studs as opposed to sheetrock and pay attention to the weight limit of the bar. In addition to bathrooms, a bar by the bed can help someone with mobility issues get in and out easily.

Ramps

People tend to think that ramps are just for wheelchairs, but that’s not the case. Stairs are a major tripping hazard for anyone who is getting older. Small threshold ramps can be installed between rooms inside while a larger 16-foot ramp will generally suffice for the transition from inside to outside. 

Smart Technology

There are so many fantastic tech options to make aging parents more comfortable while giving their loved one’s peace of mind. From temperature controls to automated blinds, lighting to entertainment systems to locks, being able to control the home with a smartphone can give a mature adult a lot more freedom. Safety systems have come a long way since the “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” days, with sensors and cameras that can detect changes in movement and routine better than ever before.

Doorknobs

Common issues such as arthritis can make opening doorknobs painful and difficult. Lever handles are a much better option and an inexpensive fix. Similarly, furniture and kitchen knobs should be swapped out with bar-style handles for easier access.  

Electric Stair Lifts

While they are one of the most expensive improvements, a chair to help navigate stairs is a must for people with muscular weakness or walking problems. In addition to physical safety, most people are comforted by knowing there is a safe way to get between floors without fear.

No-Slip Flooring

Falls are the most common cause of injury and death for older Americans and many take place in the bathroom. Replacing or covering the flooring with a non-slip surface is a smart preventative measure and can help reduce the risk of an accident when the floor becomes wet. Many options are simple to install and materials can be found at most local home improvement stores. 

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Aging in Place? Here are Six DIY Home Improvements

More and more mature adults are choosing to stay in their homes for as long as possible post-retirement. In fact, an AARP survey showed that 90% of people planned on living at home for at least five to 10 years after they turned 65. So why is staying put such a popular choice? In addition to comfort and proximity to family, another is certainly cost. The average renovation budget for aging in place adds up to around $10,000 versus an assisted living facility which can average around $50,000 per year or much more. 

If you or your parents are considering aging at home, there are some things you can do to make a house more comfortable and safer as getting around becomes increasingly challenging. Popular upgrades such as widening doorways and fitting a walk-in shower should be done by a professional but there are also small things any homeowner can do to start getting prepared. Here are some great DIY ideas:

Grab Bars

A simple grab bar can make everyday tasks like using the bathroom and taking a shower a lot less dangerous. One thing to remember is that a grab bar will potentially have to hold the full weight of a person, so be sure to screw it to wall studs as opposed to sheetrock and pay attention to the weight limit of the bar. In addition to bathrooms, a bar by the bed can help someone with mobility issues get in and out easily. 

Ramps

People tend to think that ramps are just for wheelchairs, but that’s not the case. Stairs are a major tripping hazard for anyone who is getting older. Small threshold ramps can be installed between rooms inside while a larger 16-foot ramp will generally suffice for the transition from inside to outside. 

Smart Technology

There are so many fantastic tech options to make aging parents more comfortable while giving their loved one’s peace of mind. From temperature controls to automated blinds, lighting to entertainment systems to locks, being able to control the home with a smartphone can give a mature adult a lot more freedom. Safety systems have come a long way since the “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” days with sensors and cameras that can detect changes in movement and routine better than ever before.

Doorknobs

Common issues such as arthritis can make opening doorknobs painful and difficult. Lever handles are a much better option and an inexpensive fix. Similarly, furniture and kitchen knobs should be swapped out with bar-style handles for easier access.  

Electric Stair Lifts

While they are one of the most expensive improvements, a chair to help navigate stairs is a must for people with muscular weakness or walking problems. In addition to physical safety, most people are comforted by knowing there is a safe way to get between floors without fear. 

No-Slip Flooring

Falls are the most common cause of injury and death for older Americans and many take place in the bathroom. Replacing or covering the flooring with a non-slip surface is a smart preventative measure and can help reduce the risk of an accident when the floor becomes wet. Many options are simple to install and materials can be found at most local home improvement stores. 

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.