Aging-in-Place Inspections

 Our Aging-in-Place inspection evaluates the home for safety and comfort, taking into account the new difficulties you may encounter over the next 5, 10, 20 years. The objective of an aging-in-place home inspection is to recommend modifications that make the goal of independent living longer in a familiar setting, a reality. As an example, together with your involvement, we will look at options such as: If the home has multiple levels, could you live on only the main floor? If not, What would it take?

Our Inspectors may recommend corrections and adaptations to the home to improve maneuverability, accessibility, and safety for elderly occupants.
Some recommendations for your home will involve:

* Appliances
* Bathrooms
* Kitchen
* Exterior
* Entry/Egress of the Home
* Electrical, Lighting, Safety & Security
* Plumbing
* Flooring
* Hallways
* Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning
* Miscellaneous Items as directional focus
* Interior/Overall Floor Plan
* Reduced Maintenance & Convenience Features
* Stairways, Lifts & Elevators
* Storage
* Windows

Advise for those who wish to age in place:

• Talk with family members about your long-term living preferences. Do you want to downsize to a smaller single-family home, or do you plan to stay put in your traditional family home?
• Take a look at your finances and retirement funds. With your current savings and assets, will you be able to pay for home maintenance? Consider starting a separate retirement savings account strictly for home maintenance.
• Remodel your home before your mobility becomes limited. As you age, changes in mobility, hearing, vision and overall health and flexibility will affect how easily you function in your home. Consider making your home “age-friendly” as a phased-in and budgeted home improvement, rather than waiting until you need many modifications at a time due to a health crisis.
• If you decide before you retire that you want to live in your current home through the remainder of life, consider paying for “big ticket – long life” home projects while you still have a healthy income. Such items may include having the roof assessed or replaced, replacing and upgrading the water heater or cooling unit, completing termite inspections and treatment, having a septic tank inspection and replacement, as needed, and purchasing a riding lawn mower.
• Smoky Mountain Home Inspections advocates healthy living, as it plays a vital role in your ability to age in place. Most seniors leave their homes due to functional and mobility limitations that result from medical crises, and an inability to pay for support to stay with them in their home. Effectively managing health risks and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help you stay strong, age well, and live long at your own home.

Our Goal in working together:

Aging in Place is a way by which senior citizens can avoid being dependent on others longer, due to declining health and mobility.