Home Improvements for Seniors
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:
1. Levered doorknobs.
2. Grab bars in bathrooms.
3. Levered faucets in kitchen sinks.
4. Handrails on both sides of stairwells and
on front and rear steps.
5. Grab bars in showers; removal of any door
threshold.
6. Movable shower heads for those who must
sit.
7. Portable shower seats.
8. A bathroom with a bath/shower as well as
a bedroom on the first floor.
9. Widened doors to accommodate wheelchairs.
10. 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 important 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.
About Bob Marcy & Mountain Living
Now
If you are looking for a lakefront
cabin or a secluded mountain home in North Georgia
, then you will need a partner to help you every
step of the way. Bob Marcy is an experienced
North
Georgia realtor that has the local knowledge
you need and the passion to find your perfect
slice of North Georgia real estate. Bob knows
you have many North Georgia realtors to choose
from and he is committed to providing a level
of customer service that sets him apart from
the crowd. He can help you find North
Georgia lakefront cabins, North
Georgia land for sale, North
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Ridge real estate, North
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Ridge cabins.
Bob loves living in Blue Ridge and selling
real estate all across North Georgia, Eastern
Tennessee and Western North Carolina . He has
developed this custom website to help consumers
explore all that this area has to offer. You
can search the entire
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If you see something you like or if you have
a question about a property or maybe just where
the best place to eat is, give Bob a call at
706-258-7375 or shoot him an
email at bob@mountainlivingnow.com
.
