Ranch Style Homes Are Ideal For Age In Place Remodeling

First built in California in the 1930s Ranch style homes are popular throughout the United States. The design was modeled after Mexican ranches and was embraced by builders in the postwar era of the 1950s and 60s, when ranch homes were mass-produced as an affordable alternative for parents of the baby boom generation, giving them an exciting glimpse into the future.

Mid-century ranch homes featured a low, sleek, and modern design with sizeable open floor plans, plenty of windows allowing copious amounts of natural light and large lots. The ranch style home provided the open-feeling of freedom veterans returning home were seeking, along with affordable high style, and plenty of space to expand. All the themes the new American middle-class desired in a home in the post-war world.

In fact, by the 1950s, up to 90% of residential construction were ranch-style homes because they were easy to build, simple to add on to, and perfectly met the needs of the time. However, by the 1970s, tastes had changed. Boomers who had grown up in a ranch were entering their home-buying years. Land prices had increased, and tastes leaned toward more traditional home styles on smaller lots. The ranch fell out of favor by the mid-1980s.

Fast forward to today, and single-story living is back in fashion as baby boomers reach retirement age, and more of them are choosing to age in place. 

Aging in Place: Rethinking the Ranch

Today, what's old is new again as boomers seeking to age in place realize that a ranch style home offers excellent value. Remodeling can outfit their ranch home to accommodate them safely and comfortably as they grow older.

The ranch style home lends itself perfectly to boomers seeking to downsize. They're a more accessible and affordable home-style that offer:

• Simple Floor Plans – Single story living means no stairs to negotiate. As we get older, we can develop mobility problems making stairs dangerous. 

• Attached Garages – Easy accessibility when loading and unloading the car. No need to go outside (making it safer in icy weather) when leaving the house in winter.

• An Emphasis on Openness – As design trends lean toward "open concept" living, ranch homes have fewer interior walls and use space more efficiently than many other home styles.

• Land to Garden – Older ranch homes tend to come with some land that perfect for gardening as you ease into your retirement!

Ranch homes are often built with simplicity and style, top of mind. They offer single-level living, eliminating the hassle of stairs, often have sliding doors to covered outdoor space bringing the outdoors in. Open floor plans are easier to keep clean as you age, and with minimal remodeling, can accommodate wheelchairs and walkers. The spread-out "L" or "U" shape floor plan many have, mean less yard to maintain, and best of all, they are still affordable. 

Many ranch home developments are often in urban areas near stores, restaurants, museums, shops, and bus stops. Real estate experts advise acting soon, they may be harder to come by in the coming years as 10,000 baby boomers a day retire for the next decade or so. 

Aging in Place Remodeling

Ranch homes lend themselves naturally to older homeowners with their benefits of one-level living, open floor plans, attached garages, and easy access to the outdoors. With some modifications to improve functionality, a ranch home can be affordably remodeled to keep homeowners safe and comfortable throughout their golden years. 

The following are a few of our aging in place remodeling tips and recommendations for ranch style homes.

Kitchen Remodeling

The kitchen is the heart of the home, and using the principals behind Universal Design can keep you functioning in your kitchen safely as you age. When choosing to age in place, you need to understand that the kitchen and bathroom are the most dangerous rooms in the house. 

If your home isn't already an open concept, opening the kitchen into broader living space and creating additional passageways not only looks fantastic, it better accommodates your long term needs. If you're not comfortable with an open concept, you'll still need to address doorways and entryways. The typical doorways and hallways are only 24 inches wide. When planning for the future, opening passageways to a minimum of 36 inches to accommodate a walker or 48" for wheelchair access is crucial. Whenever possible, widen entryways both horizontally and vertically as much as possible. This additional space not only gives you a feeling of openness, but it also improves functionality for a variety of life-stage scenarios such as wheelchair mobility.

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Choosing the right kitchen flooring is essential. Hard surfaces like concrete or tile can be terrible for those with back, hip, or knee problems. Some homeowners choose to use rugs or comfort mats, which, while better on aging joints, can still pose a slip and fall hazard. Contemporary flooring options like cork flooring, are softer and more comfortable on the joints, as well as textured to help prevent slipping. Other great choices are rubber floor tiles and textured hardwoods, which give you a modern look while improving safety. 

When designing cabinets and countertops, consider height, reach, and safety. Many designers believe that multi-level countertops are a great choice. They increase both maneuverability and functionality in the kitchen. Standard countertop height is 36-inches, add levels from there. When designing countertops, consider rounded corners and edges to help avoid injuries. Non-glare materials and finishes like honed granite, as opposed to polished, can make it easier for homeowners with vision problems to function in the kitchen safely. 

These are just some significant elements to consider. Your designer can provide you with all of the other options available, for example, smart kitchen devices, shelving accessories, and other universal design elements.

Aging in Place Remodeling Tips For The Bathroom

Along with the kitchen, the bathroom is one of the most dangerous rooms in the home. Like the kitchen, aging in place remodeling consists of adding elements for comfort, safety, and functionality, for example, strategically placing grab bars in the shower and near the toilet. 

When it comes bathing, if you're a bathtub person, consider upgrading to a walk-in tub with a handheld shower attachment. If a bathtub is less relevant to you, adding a sizeable threshold-free shower can prevent a potential tripping hazard while providing an easy access bathing option for older homeowners. Add a seat and a grip bar for added safety. 

Moisture in the bathroom means that flooring must be slip-resistant for safety. Today there are many options, including natural pattern textured porcelain tiles and LVT options that are waterproof and slip-resistant. 

Like other doorways, you'll want to widen the entry into your bathroom and also plan for any future need for a walker, cane, or wheelchair when designing your space. Ideally, you want to make sure that you have plenty of space to maneuver around as you age, and your mobility needs change.

Another essential safety feature is the proper height toilet. Whether you choose to purchase an appropriate height toilet or add a seat extender, make sure that the height is suitable for the people who will be using it, based on their height and abilities.

Other Aging in Place Remodeling Features

While the kitchen and bathroom are the most prominent areas to focus on when preparing your ranch for safely aging in place, there are several other areas to consider that will vastly improve your comfort and safety as you get older.

Lighting is an essential element to consider when remodeling. Dark areas can become dangerous with failing eyesight. Make sure that you have adequate lighting installed in common areas like hallways, bedrooms, and closets, as well as the kitchen and bathrooms. Proper lighting is critical to maintaining safety throughout the home. Low light can increase the probability of tripping. Adequate lighting not only improves safety, but it also creates a more pleasant house, and studies show it can increase the occupants feeling of well-being. 

Many of these design elements will carry throughout the house, or example, widening all doorways and openings. Whenever possible, make doorways 36-inches wide. All interior and exterior doors, cabinet doors, drawers, and closet doors should be made easily accessible. Outfit doors with lever handles and cabinets and drawers with "D" pulls. When possible, use open shelving and slide out shelves as well.

Like both the kitchen and bathroom, flooring throughout the house should be kept in good condition. Ripped or loose carpet can become a tripping hazard. Removing or reducing slippery surfaces can help you to reduce the possibility of falling. Install carpeting with a low-pile, or a textured hardwood or tile for easy cleaning.

Work with a Designer

When it comes to aging in place remodeling, you have several options at all price points and levels of materials. The best option is to wok with a designer or design-build contractor that is familiar and certified in Universal Design principals. 

A good designer will work closely with you to understand your lifestyle and can put together a plan to transition your home for aging in place. 

If you are considering staying in your home as you age and are wondering where to begin, why not schedule a design consultation with the expert design team at Degnan Design-Build-Remodel a call at (608) 846-5963. We're always happy to answer your questions and can help you to design your home to meet all of your needs as you get older. Click here for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your creative vision!

This article was updated by Abe Degnan on 8/24/2022.

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