Best agers and accessibility: making provisions now for later

As best agers, we have already achieved a lot in life: we are mothers, perhaps even grandmothers, are happily married or consciously enjoy our freedom and independence to the full. Above all, however, we have created a familiar environment that we don't want to give up later in life. Unfortunately, physical ailments combined with a non-accessible living situation often put paid to this wish. The good news is that with a few adaptations, almost any home can be made fit for the next stage of life.

Idee für mich
via Anonymous
07/30/2020, 18:04
Seniorin auf dem Sofa© iStock
With a few adjustments, almost any home can be made fit for the next stage of life.

Age-appropriate living space: creating free space

Your knees hurt and your mobility decreases. And as bad as it sounds: It doesn't get any better. To avoid being forced to move at some point due to a possible loss of strength, you should take precautions - in every area of your home.

Stairs

Stairs are the natural enemies of many senior citizens. If you don't live in a bungalow or ground-floor apartment, the seemingly harmless steps can quickly become a problem in old age. Especially if there is no classic passenger elevator and non-slip stair coverings and non-slip handrails are no longer sufficient. The solution: a stairlift. Suitable models are available in various designs for straight, curved, narrow and very steep stairs.

Bathroom

In the bathroom, the trip hazards are the shower and bathtub. Walk-in showers are now standard in bathroom renovations and make a real visual impact. But you don't necessarily have to do without your beloved hot bath later on either. The expert Manfred Haus says: "Barrier-free baths with access allow you to get in and out safely and painlessly. Important: drain the water first."

Floors

"The risk of falling is significantly increased in old age. You can take precautions with non-slip floor coverings. Materials such as vinyl are particularly suitable. Tile or wood-look flooring can be laid in kitchens, hallways and bedrooms as well as in wet rooms such as bathrooms." So Haus.

And who should pay for it?

An age-appropriate conversion is expensive - no question about it. However, the costs are often disproportionate to the unhappiness of having to pay for a forced move to a completely new environment. What's more, adapting your home means that you will be less dependent on outside help later on. Instead of cost-intensive care, household-related services are often sufficient to provide support in everyday life.

And: age-appropriate conversions are subsidized. The care insurance funds provide a one-off contribution of up to 4,000 euros per person for so-called measures to improve the living environment (e.g. installation of a stairlift). A cost contribution of 16,000 euros per household is even possible. However, the prerequisite for this is an existing care degree.

Regardless of age and care level, the state development bank KfW contributes to barrier-reducing conversions. The KfW subsidy amounts to up to 12.5% of the eligible costs, up to a maximum of EUR 6,250.

Alternatively, the KfW offers a low-interest loan to anyone who wants to remain living at home for as long as possible to carry out the necessary conversions. Here, up to 50,000 euros can be applied for at an effective annual interest rate from 0.78%.

Age-appropriate conversion possible in rented apartments

People who rent do not necessarily lose out. According to Section 554a of the German Civil Code (BGB), landlords must agree to structural changes as long as the tenants have a legitimate interest in the conversion and the interests of the landlord or other tenants do not outweigh this. In practice, individual agreements between tenants and landlords are usually quite straightforward, as renovations always increase the value of the property in question.