According
to an AARP survey (May, 2000), the overwhelming majority of mid-life
and older Americans want to remain living independently in their
own homes and communities for as long as possible. The new survey
found that seven in ten of those who are able to make changes to
their homes have made at least one modification to make it easier
for them to get around. Two thirds of those who made home modifications
believe those improvements will allow them to live in their homes
longer than they would have been able otherwise, most for another
ten years or more. The survey is the fifth in a series of AARP senior
housing studies. Based on telephone interviews of 2,000 persons
aged 45 and over, it examines the opinions and behavior of mid-life
and older Americans regarding their current and future housing situations.
Eighty
five percent of those polled said they have already made simple
changes to their homes, such as placing non-skid strips in bathtubs
or safety bars in showers and handrails on both side of the stairwells.
The reasons most often cited by respondents for not making home
improvements were the inability to make the changes themselves (37%)
and not being able to afford the modifications (37%). HUD's HECM
program (Reverse Mortgage) can turn the built-up wealth in your
home to cash without having to move or repay a loan each month.
Financing needed home repairs or improvements is one of the many
good uses for funds received from a HECM.
The
top 10 home improvements reported were:
- Levered
doorknobs.
- Grab
bars in bathrooms.
- Levered
faucets in kitchen sinks.
- Handrails
on both sides of stairwells and on front and rear steps.
- Grab
bars in showers; removal of any door threshold.
- Movable
shower heads for those who must sit.
- Portable
shower seats.
- A
bathroom with a bath/shower as well as a bedroom on the first
floor.
- Widened
doors to accommodate wheelchairs.
- Ramps
for those using walkers and wheelchairs.
Seniors
spend billions of dollars each year on home improvements. If you
are planning on making repairs or improvements to your home it is
imprortant to know how to pick the best contractor, and choose the
financing that's right for you. AARP has developed extensive resources
on home modifications, to obtain this information visit AARP.
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